LAST May 23, Rev. Fr. Benigno Benabarre, OSB, SBC Alumni Association assistant moderator, celebrated his 100th birthday with members of the SBC community. That afternoon, alumni and other guests at the SBC Mendiola campus came to greet Father Benabarre. A special Eucharistic Celebration was officiated by Rev. Fr. Rafaelito Alaras, OSB, with Rev. Fr. Eduardo Africa, OSB, delivering the homily.
The Conventual Mass was attended by a number of fellow Benedictines; nuns from St. Scholastica’s College and an orphanage close to the heart of Father Benabarre; close relatives and friends; former students, faculty members and school administrators.
In a wheelchair, Father Benabarre participated actively in the Holy Mass celebration and managed to deliver a thank-you speech where he expressed appreciation to the Almighty Father, the Benedictine fathers, his family members and friends who made his 100 years of a well and blessedly lived life possible.
A special dinner program prepared by the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat and SBCAA followed at the college quadrangle. About 300 guests partook of the sumptuous dinner catered by Carte Blanche. The Montserrat singers provided a special entertainment song numbers to the delight of the audience. Various programs were launched, including the Rev. Fr. Benigno Benabarre Students Scholarship program, the Rev. Fr. Benigno Benabarre Garden of 100 Native Trees program, the Fr. BB Scholarship for Future Benedictine Seminarians and the Fr. BB Law Student Scholarship Grant.
The night’s highlight was the blowing of Father Benabarre’s birthday cake and the launching of his book titled “My First 100 Years,” which he wrote and completed in time for his birthday.
The evening will go down in San Beda history as he is the only Benedictine who has reached 100 years old celebrating the same in the Mendiola campus.