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Bautista, Navarro, Rise to the Top in RVM Tricentennial Essay Contest
Photo via St. Mary’s College of Baliuag, Inc. FB
From uncertainty to recognition, two Ignacian Marians turned moments of hesitation into award-winning essays in the Tricentennial Celebration of the 1726 Rules and Constitution of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (R.V.M.) Congregation Essay Writing Contest.
Allaine Ysabelle Bautista won first place while Ma. Anjenica Anne Navarro placed second in the essay writing competition held in the tricentennial celebration, which marks 300 years since Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo submitted the congregation’s Rules and Constitutions to the Archdiocese of Manila on July 1, 1726.
Ms. Bautista shared that she wrote her winning essay on the morning she learned about the competition, while Ms. Navarro completed hers just 30 minutes before the submission deadline.
According to Ms. Bautista, her biggest challenge was her unfamiliarity with Mother Ignacia’s 1726 Rules and Constitutions. She said she addressed this by reading, researching, and reflecting on Mother Ignacia’s life before writing her essay, adding that the process gave greater depth to her work.
Her essay, A Light Passed Forward, focused on the idea that Mother Ignacia’s faith and legacy continue to inspire future generations.
Reflecting on the experience, she said the competition taught her that uncertainty can become an opportunity to move forward and that writing is about expressing one’s thoughts with sincerity.
Meanwhile, Ms. Navarro said her main challenge was presenting the historical and spiritual significance of the 1726 Rules and Constitutions in a way that would resonate with contemporary readers.
To overcome this, she immersed herself in research and reflection while drawing connections between Mother Ignacia’s values and present-day experiences.
Ms. Navarro also shared that she completed her essay amid time pressure, finishing it only half an hour before the deadline.
Her essay, A Sacred Gift of Hope: Living the Light of the 1726 Constitution, highlighted the continuing relevance of Mother Ignacia’s teachings and the values contained in the Rules and Constitutions.
She emphasized that the principles of faith, humility, and service remain applicable in everyday life despite the passage of three centuries.
She added that participating in the competition deepened her appreciation of Mother Ignacia’s legacy and the enduring values that continue to guide the R.V.M. community today.
The achievements of Ms. Bautista and Ms. Navarro brought recognition to St. Mary’s College of Baliuag (S.M.C.B.) as both students secured top placements in the Tricentennial Celebration essay writing competition.