Mr. and Ms.

SMEI 2018: The Highlight

By: Jesnah Malaluan

The 12th day of February was the time when everything that meets the eye was
embellished with dashing lights and blinding sparkles.

The night was still young when the most awaited event for the celebration of St.
Mary’s Educational Institute’s Founding Anniversary was started, and it simply
published the Genesis story of each participating student with their titles. The school’s
covered court, which served as the venue, was designed with pleasing hues that
represent the institution itself and everything around greatly complements each
decoration, emitting the event’s formality.

Every year, the institution holds the search for Mr. and Ms. SMEI, searching for
the rightful owners of the crown who can withstand its weight. Each class is required to
have their own representatives, and the counting process which started in November
followed by the last in January will determine who will be crowned with the respective
titles.

The even started with the introduction of the parents guided and administered by
the SEC officers and Eagle Scouts, each walking with proud smiles etched on their
faces. Soon, it was the turn of the night’s highlight. The introduction of the participating
students and their titles was done while having their anticipated walk along the velvety
carpet on their eye-catching tuxedos and the reverberating elegance of their gowns.
These screamed their undeniable efforts and the preparations they had gone through,
showing the support of the parents involved and their cooperation to make the event
successful like how it has always been since the years past. But, the texture of each
suits and each piece of bead attached to their dresses were nothing compared to the
smiles of the title holders themselves, pride and beauty as dashing as their pearly
whites and the look around their orbs. While making their way towards the center stage
with the cameras focused on their presence, each participating student was introduced
from their basic information up to their goals and life philosophy by the masters of the
ceremony, Mr. ___ and Mrs. ___. Upon gracing the surroundings, each pair was settled
on their own positions at the center stage with the crowned Mr. and Ms. SMEI 2018
receiving the loudest applause from the crowd.

After the seemingly long wait with all the kind words and recognitions, it was time
for the most awaited moment of the night: the awarding of trophies and sash. Each pair,
from the minor awardees ascending to the highest position, was awarded with their
parents accompanied and guided by the selected members of faculty and staff, and of
course, completed with the presence of the school’s assistant principal, Mrs. Divina G.
Agoncillo, and the school’s principal, Dr. Randy M. Baja.

The night seemed to intensify during the awarding of the major title holders: Mark
Jude dela Cruz and ___, Mr. and Ms. Grade 7; ___ and Andrea Arellano, Mr. and Ms.
Grade 8; Adrian Bolor and Julianne Lucero, Mr. and Ms. Grade 10; Michael Rosas and
Richelle Umali, Mr. and Ms. SMEI Second Runner Up; Enrico Delos Reyes and Marian
Radovan, Mr. and Ms. SMEI First Runner Up; and lastly, the highlight of the said portion:
the awarding of Mr. and Ms. St. Mary’s Educational Institute 2018, Mr. Lee Andrey
Catena and Ms. Jasmine Summer Dela Luna.

Soon enough, the crowd’s excitement, which seemed to sag down after the tiring
awarding, became alive again as if it was the first part because of the selected junior
high school students who performed their Regodon de Honor with pleasing costumes
and synchronization choreographed by Mr. Erwin Cabrera, and the annual tradition of
the poem which was recited by Grade 12 student, Mr. Sedrick Louie Cuento.

The night was concluded with the formal dance by each pair with the crowned Mr.
and Ms. SMEI as the center of attention along the calm and romantic vibe of the music
played. Thousands of pictures were taken with the blinding flashes, words of honor and
appreciation were constantly halted, and the title holders were given the recognition by
the school itself, surely making it a night to remember.