The 15-foot nativity scene that graced the Sancta Maria Stella Orientis Oratory last December was yet again a visual feast. It was intricately arranged by the same group of people—12 or 13 of them—who have been furnishing the oratory with a Belen every December for 14 years now.
One hundred steps away, in front of the ALB pond, were its small-scale counterparts—1 x 1 x 1 in meter—assembled with the same eye for detail by the participating schools and units of UA&P. These nine nativity scene displays, unlike their big predecessor in Stella, followed a theme, as had been the custom since the Belen-Making Contest of UA&P was first held in 2009. Thus, the only decorations common among them were the figures of the Holy Family, the angels, the shepherds, the animals, and the star. The rest were as different as each group’s interpretation of the theme.
So why talk of the Belens in the heat of summer?
Because this time, it is not about the Belens. It is about what unites ordinary people to do ordinary things extraordinarily well. That is timeless.
A CAUSE
The Assets and Facilities Management (AFM) Unit brought home last year’s first prize. Their Belen spoke of fine craftsmanship: A replica of a vintage folding camera in unfolded posture encased the Holy Family. Surrounding the Holy Family were the façades of the UA&P buildings cut from Styropor, their windows meticulously etched from the plastic foam. Photos of the activities in the University were clipped at the base. The display sought to capture the 50 years of the University.
When Lynith Columna presented the image of a vintage camera to Mang Eran Ornedo of the Building and Equipment Maintenance (BEM) Unit, she asked, “Kaya mo bang gawin? Kasi kung hindi mo kaya, iisip kami ng iba.” Mang Eran said, “Kaya ‘yan.” So off they proceeded with the concept.
What with the given advantage of having on their team the carpenters, handymen, and decorators of the University, a spot in the top three finish seemed certain. But not quite. For they faced the same dilemma that most units do at that time of the year: hectic schedule.
“Maraming work, so depende sa schedule nila kung kelan sila tutulong,” said Lynith of her fellow AFM staff. Lynith spearheaded the Belen project of their unit, with the support of her supervisor Elvie Roque. Herself working in one of the busiest venues come December—the Oratory—Lynith appreciated that everybody contributed to making the Belen as best they could.
“Si Ms. Elvie, tumulong sa explanation. ‘Yung mga ilaw, si Sir Randy din ‘yung nagpagod nun. Mahirap dahil ‘yung ilaw eh per building. BEM talaga ‘yung gumagawa sa ilaw. Tapos ‘yung mga abubot, kung ano mang pwedeng ilagay, kami na ‘yun,” referring to herself, Elvie, Juliet Dela Cruz, Edwina Buagan, and Lani Cervantes.
The inconveniences did not deter the group from seeing the project through to the end. For they all knew that if they would win, they would bring home something wonderful for Christmas.
“Every year, we have a Christmas party,” narrated Lynith. “For AFM dapat lang ‘yun pero we decided to include the guards and the service personnel. That is the reason gusto naming sumali kasi ‘pag nanalo, we would use the cash prize [for a special project]. Binibigyan namin sila ng pamasko din. Kaya masaya kami na may purpose ‘yung pagsali namin. Hindi lang dahil gusto naming ipakita ‘yung kaya naming gawin. May purpose ‘yung pagsali namin lagi.”
FRIENDSHIP
For the all-girl Belen team of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), which copped the second prize, it counted a lot that they are friends.
“Hindi lang kami basta magkaka-trabaho,” said Abbygail Reyes from the Department of Arts. “Kaya ‘yung times na exhausted na, kahit nagkakapikunan, kahit ayaw mo nang gawin, tuloy lang. May magsasabi, ‘Hindi. Ganito lang yan.’”
She and Miles Biay, Carie Feria, and Jam Fernandez—all from the Office of the College Secretary of CAS—would meet after office hours and work on the Belen until 9:00 pm. They started to meet earlier when the deadline loomed near and their handiwork was not yet in good shape.
Their Belen was a replica of the octagonal Administration and Library Building. Five of its walls were held up by strings hooked to a bar upon which the star rested. When unhooked, the sides unfolded to reveal the Holy Family at the center and images of the virtues that the University imparts. The idea for the replica came from Girlie Caedo.
“‘Yung idea namin, pang-lalaki,” Abby laughed. “Kailangan ng may maglalagari, may ihu-hook. Na-excite kami sa idea. Pero nung time na ie-execute na siya, ‘Paano natin ‘to gagawin?’ Kasi nag-bisagra (hinge) pa kami dun eh. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka-challenging sa amin. So, paunti-unti, pumupunta kami kay Mang Eran. ‘Mang Eran, paputol.’ ‘Mang Eran, kelangan namin ng hook.’ We really had to ask help from BEM.”
The help they needed, they got. However, the rest of the work depended on their perseverance. They wanted a smooth execution of the opening and closing of the walls, something which they did not achieve easily. For this, they spent the whole days of Saturday, Sunday, and a holiday to make it work.
“May point na may isa nang nagsabi na, ‘Wag na nating ilaban,’” Abby narrated. It helped that they could speak their minds to each other and say “Sayang naman ‘yung ilang araw na nag-overtime tayo” and “Bakit pa natin sinimulan kung hindi natin tatapusin?” With more encouragement and swapping of stories over meals, they managed to deliver.
They were grateful to the faculty members who extended their help, even if it was only by peeking into the room where they work and asking how they were doing. Ms. Danes Calantuan-Mejos and Dr. Jo-em Antonio prepared the write-up, and Dr. Marion Magsino, their dean, supported them all the way.
The joy over the experience mattered to them the most. “Sa amin, parang bonding na ‘yun. Kaya na-enjoy din namin.”
HEALTHY COMPETITION
For the Center for Student Affairs (CSA), the concept for their Belen can come anytime of the year.
“When I come across a design, I save it,” said Arianne Vito Cruz. “‘Pag inilabas na ‘yung theme, that’s the time iisipin ko na kung alin dun sa mga designs ‘yung mas applicable. Tapos I pitch it to the people.”
She and Paz Maria Santos, who used to lead CSA in making the Belen until she “retired” from it, would spare no costs or effort in achieving the desired effect.
Their entry last year—a transparent gift box with the Holy Family suspended at the center—was their most expensive by far. The gold paint, the wood frame, and the printable acetates were costly. The prize money in their previous wins, however, cushioned the weight of these expenses. The effort they put into the Belen, on the other hand, could not be compensated.
Jon Granada assembled the frame. The girls—Arianne, Kate Catabui, Kat Ferriols, Mich Alejandro, Candice Baluyot, Karla Lozano, and Corrie Medina—worked on the strings and thumbtacks, no mean feat when one has to push the thumbtacks into hard wood.
“Ilang daliri rin yung nag-suffer,” the genial Student Services Officer laughed.
They would go to these lengths not only because they wanted to win, but also because each detail has meaning.
“Lahat ng strings naka-direct sa gitna na naka-suspend kasi siya (Holy Family) talaga ‘yung center,” Arianne explained. “Transparent, kasi dapat kita mo kung ano ‘yung true meaning niya. On the side, makikita mo ‘yung outreach activities kasi, for me, gift giving is more than the physical gift. It’s actually what you give from inside of you. It’s a good thing Marie Puyat was able to capture our intent in the write-up.”
Concepts such as these are not revealed until the day of the submission of entries, when each participating unit has to display their write-up too. When the Belens are arranged at the ALB Lobby, competition runs high.
“Ang dami naming narinig na ‘Ang laki ng kanila. Lagpas ‘to sa 1×1.’ Sabi ko, ‘Excuse me. Sukat ‘yan sa meter stick kaya walang lalagpas sa 1×1.’” That meter stick rests on the windowpane of their conference room at the 4th floor mezzanine.
Her husband, CAS Arts instructor Art Vito Cruz, would remain mum on CSA’s entry until after the awarding. “He would say after, ‘Dapat ganito, ganyan.’ Sasabihin ko, ‘Walang pakialaman, Dad,’” Arianne amusingly narrated.
“CSA is competitive in general,” she admitted. “But it’s also in the spirit of Christmas. Dapat lahat nagjo-join.”
All three women—and we dare say all the units in this University—agree that the competition must continue, for it is a tradition worth keeping. It binds their group closer, gives each person a sense of accomplishment, and reminds everyone that the most important is the Baby Jesus and His love that saves.
Following are the Belens of the other participating units:
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