The Official Publication of Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Inc.
ESCO
As the event was coming to an end, the final act of the SSVP members was a heartfelt prayer, bringing everyone together in a solemn silence, and reflecting on the day's event. It was the perfect way to end the event, established with gratitude, faith, and the spirit of joy.
From the Marching Band to the prayer, the entirety of the event was made successful and joyous with the shared music, food, and love that brought everyone together. It was not only a day made to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, but also the unity, heart, and service of the whole community. It was clear as day that the shared memories of the event would be unforgettable and always remembered by those involved in the charity and love of the SSVP members.
HEARTS IN SERVICE:
Honoring Bl. Ozanam Through Compassion and Community
The Feast Day of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam was marked by a meaningful celebration that embodied his enduring legacy of charity and service. The event began with a vibrant marching band performance at the Rotonda, setting a spirit of unity and joy. This was followed by a series of outreach activities, including a feeding program and the much-anticipated "Lugawan ni Oz," which served warm meals to members of the community.
Students and faculty worked hand in hand to extend support and kindness, reaching out especially to jeepney drivers stationed outside the school premises. The entire celebration reflected the spirit of generosity and social responsibility that Ozanam championed. It was not merely an occasion of festivity, but also a manifestation of faith in action. Through every shared meal and heartfelt interaction, the event became a testament to the values he stood for.
Despite the physical demands of the day, the experience left a profound emotional impact on the volunteers. Many participants viewed their involvement as an opportunity to contribute to something greater than themselves. "The event was tiring, but overall, it was a relief-relief because we are able to help other people, especially the jeepney drivers outside of our school," expressed Binaluyo and Rojas, reflecting on the fulfillment that accompanied their efforts.
Their words underscored the balance between exhaustion and purpose that defines true service. By dedicating their time and energy to those often overlooked, the students demonstrated the transformative power of compassion. This personal encounter with service deepened their understanding of community engagement and highlighted how collective acts of kindness can create lasting impact-both for the givers and the receivers. The event not only nurtured relationships but also instilled a deeper sense of civic and social responsibility.
For others, the experience was simpler yet equally profound. "I was happy enough to help others," shared Jorda, capturing in a few words the quiet fulfillment that service brings. Her sentiment encapsulated the essence of the celebration: that the heart of honoring Bl. Ozanam lies not in grandeur but in genuine care for others. The event proved the service, no matter how modest, carries the power to uplift and inspire. It showed that young people can embody Ozanam's mission and live as beacons of hope in today's world.
By actively participating in these outreach efforts, the students affirmed that they are not just recipients of education but agents of positive change. As the echoes of the marching band faded, what remained was the lasting imprint of compassion and solidarity. The Feast Day concluded not only with full bowls but with fuller hearts-a living proof that service, indeed, is the highest form of celebration.
T au ACADEMIC YEAR 2025 - 2026 THE BLUE MANTLE,
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1
ANGELA FEI REYES he street vendor is already moving before the city fully awakens. They are heating oil in dented pans or carefully pyramiding fruits, while office lights are still low and jeepneys are just starting to rumble. The sidewalk turns into a stage and a workplace at dawn, which is more than just a time of day. Their silhouettes, as steady as the sunrise itself, move purposefully in the pale orange light.
www
Routine is what ties a street vendor's life together. They get up early, travel great distances, and bear the burden of their livelihood in woven baskets or on pushcarts. Breakfast is frequently consumed while standing, in between patrons and oncoming traffic. Each coin earned is carefully calculated and allocated to either electricity, rent, rice, or school fees. Their proving ground and marketplace are the streets. They stay under the intense midday heat or the unexpected monsoon rain. Plastic sheets turn into barriers against the mood swings of the weather, and umbrellas blossom like makeshift roofs. Resilience grows like grass through concrete on the hard, unforgiving sidewalk.
Their proving ground and marketplace are the streets. They stay under the intense midday heat or the unexpected monsoon rain. Plastic sheets turn into barriers against the mood swings of the weather, and umbrellas blossom like makeshift roofs. Resilience grows like grass through concrete on the hard, unforgiving sidewalk.
Street vendors sell more than goods; they sell familiarity. The taho vendor who calls out each morning, the fishball stand that gathers students after class, the fruit seller who knows which mangoes are sweetest today-they become part of the neighborhood's rhythm. Their voices weave into the city's soundtrack, as recognizable as the honk of a bus or the whistle of a guard. In their small exchanges of change and chatter, community quietly forms.
Yet their work lives in uncertainty. Permits, policies, and the occasional clearing operation can reduce a day's earnings to nothing in mere minutes. Take a sick day, and there's no income, no safety net to catch them. The future's a tightrope walk, balanced between hope and hardship. But they come back the next morning, their carts rolling, their stoves lit.
They are parents, sons, daughters, and grandparents who carry entire families on their backs. Education for their children is a guiding force that helps them navigate through long days and tired feet. They have backs that ache and hands that are cracked and dried out to ensure that their children sit in air-conditioned classrooms instead of on the side of the road. Sacrifice is not an elaborate word for them ―it is an everyday reality.
There are small victories that outsiders do not notice. There are days when everything sells out before sundown. It's like a celebration. There are customers who become loyal patrons and recommend the stall to others, It's a quiet pride. There are times when the vendors laugh together with their neighbors during slow hours. It's a reminder that they are not alone in their struggles.
IYA
As night falls and the city glows with artificial light, the street vendor begins to pack away their world. The cart is lighter, the pockets a little heavier, though never heavy enough to rest for long. Tomorrow will demand the same endurance, the same faith in passing footsteps. On the pavements where others merely walk by, street vendors plant perseverance and somehow, it blooms.