The One-Night Fairytale: One Last Dance
| Nicola Ampere De Guzman
Photos edited by Elijah Jardinez, Nathania Vigilancia, Reine Depra, Rohan Binamira, Princess Idulan
In a world of constant pressure—applying to a good college, being a good child, and just getting your whole life together—students still long for a break. A night free from deadlines, grades, while the quiet knock of adulthood waits at the door.
And that pause came in the form of a banquet and purity ball celebrated by grades 12 and 9-10 students of JSCGO Christian Academy (JCA) on January 23 and 29.
At first glance, the events seemed similar to prom—the night when students dress in shimmering outfits and wear smiles brighter than usual. When music feels softer, and laughter grows louder, while time slows down, even if only for a while.
But the events offer something different. Ms. Giselle Sebastian, the organizer and wife of the school’s chaplain, explained that the banquet was meant to give seniors a “clean fun.” Starting from the outfits, music, and dances that are usually offered at prom.
Reframing the experience, the night was redesigned to be clean and free from pressure and distractions—a space where students could enjoy one another’s company without the need to mirror the world around them, all while keeping the celebration for the glory of the Lord.
In the same spirit, the Purity Ball carried this principle further through a personal promise: “There is a promise from the student to their parents that they will finish school and stay pure—until they finish college, until they get married, actually,” she explained.
Though both nights were promised to be fun—a clean one, what truly completed them? What did the events mean for the students?
Chapter 1: The Happiness
One might assume that the venue or the outfits mattered most, especially with the need for Instagrammable pictures to call the night satisfying. However, upon entering the hall, perspectives began to shift. What students once thought would bring pure joy turned out to be different from what truly made them smile.
For the Grade 12 students, happiness came from the people they shared the night with. Bianca Del Rio, the crowned queen of the night, shared, “I really enjoyed the banquet, especially since I was with my friends…. I just had a lot of fun dressing up and feeling pretty with my friends.”
And like Bianca, many students, including Nicholai Garcia, the crowned king of the night, who shared, “Sobrang saya, kasi halos buo kaming magtotropa—nakapagsama-sama kami.” found that happiness was less about winning or the glamorous setting. Instead, it came from the small, joyful moments shared with classmates they had grown close to over the years.
Yet beyond the comfort and enjoyment, some reminded us that happiness is not only laughter and dancing, but also the restoration of relationships and a sense of peace before moving forward. Candy Lauzon, the winner of Best Person (Female Category) recalled, “Best experience ko sa banquet is nung nag-apologize kami sa isa’t isa. Parang yun ‘yung the best time na binigay samin ni Lord para maging okay kami.”
Meanwhile, for the junior high school students, the night was more of a moment of connection and appreciation with their parents. Naiomi Adah Bergante, a grade 10 student, described the experience as “memorable” as she danced with her mother.
From these moments, one truth became clear: happiness is not found in decorations or music, but in shared moments. Whether with friends or family, it is the brief feeling of being free from pressure, worry, and expectation. In the end, both nights became exactly what they needed to be—a pause filled with comfort, joy, and meaning: the true happiness.
Chapter 2: The End of the Beginning
Eventually, the music halted to a full stop, the lights brightened, and the tables were left undone. Students passed one another on their way out, turning the night into a memory they would carry with them.
Goodbyes were said, congratulations exchanged, and rides shared. For some, the night marked an ending; for others, it became the beginning of something new.
Though anxious about the future, students allowed themselves to feel light and special—when farewells didn’t feel so heavy, and the last dance wasn’t sad. As praise team leader John Christian Ojos described, the night was surely “unpredictable.”
Perhaps this was a reminder that the fairytale we once thought was about perfect love stories, shimmering gowns, and a white horse coming to save the day, was all along, found in the people who made us laugh and showed us true happiness, comfort, and peace.
For you, what is a fairytale?
