IHMS HARBINGERS 81’
(Erico Joseph T. Canete)
THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SEMINARY (IHMS) HARBINGERS CLASS OF 1981 joined the IHMS Diamond Jubilee on August 18 and 19, 2025. It was a festive celebration of life as we reminisced the good old IHMS years.
Amidst the jovial celebration, a state of introspection haunted our consciousness as we marveled somewhere back in time from 1977 to 1981. We were in unison with our Eureka, be it a Heraclitian concept of change, Hegelian or Marxist dialectics, that each one of us underwent a transformation. It was not just a typical transformation but a dialectics in consonance with our battle cry for change – “Omnia mutantur. Et beneficia sint muta – All things change. And may the changes be of help.” We changed and the changes were beneficial.
GROWING: The three “R’s” namely Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic were just an iota of our seminary life training. We had our sports activities, music practices, manualia, other extra curricular activities, and above all, our spiritual activities. The pietas (piety), scientia (knowledge) and sanctitas (holiness) embedded in our IHMS logo, became an integral part of our growing. We distinctively grew up individually and spiritually.
GROWING TOGETHER: It’s because we were different that we had so much to share. We had plenty of contradictions being young and restless. We experienced storm and stress. But jut like the philosophy of dialectics, we made a synthesis and accepted each others’ individual differences and uniqueness.
We are more than friends! We are brothers!
GROWING TOGETHER FOR A PURPOSE: Despite the limitation of our existence, we strived to build a world bigger than our own small worlds. Of the thirty-three and an addendum of one during the sophomore year, only three became alter Christus. Some have chosen single blessedness while others have families and carry a bigger responsibility of bringing the souls of their respective spouse and children back to God.
I could proudly say that the Harbingers excelled in their chosen field of vocation and discipline. Some had been called to serve in the field of medicine and health services. Others on engineering profession, music and entertainment, military service, business, education, and government and public service. But whatever calling each one has, the Harbinger served to enhance the existential end of our individuality in our quest for happiness, and above all, social responsibility to enhance the common good of society.
GROWING TOGETHER IN GOD: The Harbingers are lucky knowing that on top of reason, we have the blessing of a gratuitous gift of faith from God. God had provided us all the opportunities and circumstances to strengthen our relationship with Him. Through devotions that our will were strengthened while our intellect were formed through prayers. It’s faith that strengthened us from our flaws and inequities for us to grow more in God.
Thank you Immaculate Mother for your constant intercession for us.
Now, as we sing our graduation song, One Voice (Barry Manilow), we pray for our dearly departed Harbinger brothers namely Alex, Isidro, Sansen, Antonino, Rogelio, and Joven.
Hail IHMS Harbingers 1981! IHMS we love you!