Fever Pitch

This is your added chance. Do your best if not better than last year. Thus said Office of Student Affairs’ (OSA) Program Officer for Student Development and Student Organizations’ Formation and Training Trish Penelope B. Araña who shoved student organizations’ competencies in the pursuit of their respective goals this A/Y 2013-2014. As early as 13 March, the OSA already sent letters to the organizations about their office tenure status at Xavier Hall. Last 1 April, a ceremonial was conducted at the Instructional Media Center where the OSA had awarded the top performing organizations with their office spaces. And on 1 May, the awardees were already allowed to occupy their headquarters. The OSA also gave the organizations the privilege to acquire their very own bulletin boards. Ousted, Transferred, Remained Basing on the requirements given and the activities conducted last academic year, the OSA made the final list of student organizations which will be granted w...

Just before the awarding ceremony, their concerns seemed so far away. But as of now, Leonardo Javier V. Rugeria, Ludel Maiello S. Mier and Marymon Severina Q. Florendo who were declared as the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) – Region V winners are just a few steps away from being TOSP-National titleholders. Graduated last March 2013, they received various awards for excelling in academics, social responsibility and leadership activities. ”Through their personified academic excellence, exemplary leadership, and deep sense of social responsibility, anchored on good moral values,” they have now the chance to represent Bicol at the national level. Eight students competed for the regional search, seven of them coming from Naga – Ateneo de Naga University, University of Nueva Caceres (UNC), University of Sta. Isabel and Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) and one from Albay – Divine Word College. The TOSP awards program is considered as the “most prest...

By Englebert A. Villegas With the aim to share the ‘Ateneo at 75’ celebration through media practitioners, a press conference, organized by the Alumni Office, was conducted last 5 June at Richie Fernando Hall. According to Alumni and International Relations Director Karlos Jerome Llorin, media experts from all over the Bicol region were invited to the said event. Only those in Camarines Sur came, while others did not due to travel distance. Hot Topics The participants were given t-shirts to identify them as media. Various issues were discussed during the whole session. Academic Vice President Alfredo C. Fabay talked about the 75 th anniversary of Ateneo, stating its steadfast commitment to excellence; while University President Fr. Primitivo E. Viray Jr., S.J. spoke about the directions of the school – the ‘new frontiers’. Viray tackled the concrete steps to realize the school’s directions and dreams which include the Ateneo Grade School. On one hand, Noel R. Vo...

By Englebert A. Villegas Escaping out of the tradition, last year’s Pintakasi had introduced new events such as Mr. and Ms. Pintakasi, Fashion Show and Spelling Bee ‘to further promote its value of camaraderie, sense of community and sensibility.’ According to Ateneo de Naga University – Supreme Student Government External Vice-President Samillano, the entire event was ‘sulit’ despite of having only a month to prepare. “Late na samo nasabi na idadagos palan ang Pintakasi tapos samo pa winalat ta nag- resign nga si president [Frank Calma] pero naging ok man because of the cooperation of Pintakasi Associate Heads and support from different offices like DAVP,” he said. The affair, bearing the theme Porta Fidei (Door of Faith): Katood, Pagtubod, had only eight participating extra-curricular organizations, namely: (arranged according to overall ranking) Ateneo Paradigm Éclat Xircle (APEX), Ateneo Lightning Scorpion of the Philippines, Sentient Ateneans Reaching Out, Ateneo Junior Eagles, ...

By Englebert A. Villegas Indeed, a mud-spattered experience in a low tidal seaboard but then worth doing to get the jackpot prize – a new Calabanga glowing with vibrant species of every imaginable colors, teeming with life-sustaining endeavors like that of history’s scene. Being closer to water than land, the people in Sibobo, Calabanga, Camarines Sur were used to fishing as a form of livelihood. Other industries like farming, hog dispersal, shell trading; dried fish production and seaweed culture were infiltrated also but have failed due to scarce and unfettered harvest, insufficient capital and incompatibility with the area’s potential resources. On one hand, quarrying was entered into but the people have only savored a source of income which caused injurious effects to the environment, namely: silt accumulation, shoreline degradation and infertility of farmland. They have overlooked the supreme importance of nature causing a slap on their wrists. Compelling Proof for Reforestat...

Huni brings thesis to life A History: First Bikol Musical By Englebert A. Villegas From a dream of promoting Bikol culture to actualizing a thesis, Huni nin Sarong Gamgam: Sarong Pasaling Musikal (Pagbalangibog kan mga Bikol na Awit-Banwaan sa paagi nin  Pasali sa  Entablado) was staged last 19 February at the Arrupe Convention Hall. 4-AB Communication students Ann Jilian B. Borja, Guia B. Nacario, Jiren S. Pasario had made all the paper works last semester and advanced to production making this semester, inviting some Media Studies students and playhouse enthusiasts to portray certain roles. Providing positive feedbacks on the presentation, Noel Volante, Ph.D., Media Studies Chairperson Digna Mac-Paner Alba, Ph.D. and Paz Verdadez Matina Santos, Ph.D served as the panelists during the first day of showing which was also the defense and critiquing part. Seeing the potential success of the stage play, the Center for Culture and Arts sponsored the program ...

AdNU invests for new org’l leads Are they ready for the challenge? By Englebert A. Villegas With the theme “To lead and to serve in victory and defeat,” the Summer Ateneo Workshop on Ignatian Leadership for Life (A-WILL) 2013 served as an investment of Ateneo de Naga University in preparing the new set of student leaders. Conducted last 16-21 May at the Stella Maris Renewal Center, Tigaon, Camarines Sur, the event offered basic leadership themes and trainings for the 47 incoming presidents and vice-presidents or executive officers of co-curricular and extra-curricular organizations. “ Su mga workshops and exercises ninda based duman sa needs mismo kang mga participants tapos sa situations that they might experience whether campus-wide man o sa luwas kan school,” shared Program Officer for Student Development and Student Organizations’ Formation and Training Trish Penelope B. Araña. As a major component of the Ateneo Leadership Development Program, a three-yea...

By Englebert A. Villegas Serving as a commencement exercise of student organizations, the Student Organizations’ Awards and Recognition (SOAR) Night 2013 was held last 25 February coinciding with the 27 th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. SOAR aims “to recognize the best performing student organizations and commendable student leaders to inspire them and their peers to continually do their best in terms of their performance in the organizations and as forerunners of it.” According to Program Officer for Student Development and Student Organizations Formation and Training Trish Penelope Baesa Araňa, the event also gave recognition to moderators "whose support and assistance to organizations are deemed crucial to the student groups’ successes." Soar higher! Conducted at the Arrupe Convention Hall, the SOAR Night primed its way of “appreciating the role of organizations in the formation of student heads as responsible members of community.” ...

Awarded second in the search for ten Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines (JRMSP) last 30 December 2012, Senior AB Philosophy student Javier Leonardo V. Rugeria stressed out that “education should not be taken for granted.” Conducted annually, the search aims to recognize model students throughout the country who best depict the qualities of the national hero. The candidates were judged in terms of their academic excellence, leadership skills, and involvement in extra-curricular activities which cater to the needs of the community as a whole. JRMSP was under the sponsorship of the Order of the Knights of Rizal (OKR), a private non-stock and non-profit fraternal group that upholds the ideas and teachings of Rizal and instills them to others. Catching the Triumph Rugeria was chosen among the four student applicants within the university and competed against 67 others in the national level. They went through paper screenings and panel interviews. On 28 Decemb...