SOAR '13 recognizes exemplary leaders, orgs

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.”

Araňa shared that the Ateneo de Naga University-Office of Student Affairs (OSA) organized the award-giving body and made group deliberations to determine the awardees of individual, activity, special and student organization categories.

The nominees were screened through a pointing system that OSA created, and then finally identifying the winners based on the reports, completed requirements, evaluations, academic performance and activities submitted by different organizations, and with the help of Organizational Support and Assistance Program also made by OSA.

“Maingat kami sa pagpili – sa check and rechecking of points ng mga organizations, sa pagverify ng mga activities nila. Ang pinakamahirap na proseso kasi dito eh ‘yung paglilinis ng data at pagdetermine kung social involvement ba talaga ang activity nilang ito o baka naman special project,” said Araňa.

She also stated that the entire program was conducted in collaboration with different offices and groups such as College Registrar’s Office, Office of the President, University Band and a lot more.

The Night

In its second year of display, attendees came to SOAR Night 2013 in their Barong and Filipiniana outfits as a sign of nationalism ‘for a change’.

In the course of the event, OSA Director Fr. Ritche B. Elot, S.J. expressed his admiration to the balanced performance of distinctive organizations in terms of “management and operations, skills development, social involvement, spiritual formation, special projects, and participation in OSA-sanctioned formation activities.”

The awarding ceremony also renamed the Student Leader Award to Jesse M. Robredo Student Leader of the Year Award and from Moderator Award to Fr. John “Jack” Phelan, SJ Moderator of the Year Award.

These two individuals are known for their good values, principles and leadership which earned them outstanding honors from the society.

On one hand, Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL) President Rea Marie Javal said, “Unexpected and overwhelming ang results ng SOAR. We only hoped to win the ‘Spiritual Formation Award. We are very grateful for receiving other big awards.”

When asked about the reason why they won such awards, she imparted that they were able to implement programs embodying their organizational mission and vision making them proud catechists of this generation.

She also believes that this kind of affair will motivate organizations to develop their management style, to be holistically formed by trying out various fields of interests, and to make a change in the society.

Here is the Complete List of Awardees:

Fr. Raul J. Bonoan, SJ Student Organization of the Year: 
Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL)

Most Outstanding Extra-curricular Organization: 
Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)
1st runner-up: Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)
2nd runner-up: Uswag Junior Eagles

Most Outstanding Co-curricular Organization: 
Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)
1st runner-up: Media Studies Department (MSS)
2nd runner-up: Economic Society (ECOSOC)

Achievement Award for Spiritual Formation: 
Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL)
Nominee: Days with the Lord-Women (DWTL-W)

Achievement Award for Skills Development:
Extra-curricular: Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)
Nominees: 
Uswag Junior Eagles
Remontados Debate Society

Co-curricular: Association of Bicol Business Students (ABBS)
Nominees:
Association of Psychology Students of Ateneo (APSA)
Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)

Achievement Award for Social Advocacy and Involvement: 
Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL)
Nominees:
Pathways for Higher Education Youth Group (PYG)
Gabay Scholars’ Organization
Ateneo College Red Cross Youth (ACRCY)

Jesse M. Robredo Student Leaders of the Year:
1. Sonia Marie Bacares – President, Uswag Junior Eagles
2. Rea Marie Javal – President, Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL)
3. Celdhon Nacario – President, Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)
4. Sheryl Ravanilla - President, Atene Nature Crusaders
5. Raiza Beatriz Rosero – President, Media Studies Society (MSS)

Fr. John “Jack” J. Phelan, SJ Moderators of the Year Award:
• Maria Cheradee Rachel Alarcon – Days with the Lord-Women (DWTL-W)
• Noel Amador – Ateneo EAGLES for Environment, Inc.
• Juan Carlos de los Reyes - Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE) / Uswag Junior Eagles
• Jonafel Garol-Singson - Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL)
• Jay Salvosa III - Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)

Special Awards:
• Service Award: Ian Mar Nebres Lee
• Outstanding Volunteer Group: Center for Community Development Volunteers (CCD-Voltz)
• Special Commendation for Projects:
Tarpadyak – Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)
Tilad - Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)
Whistle for the Deaf – Uswag Junior Eagles

Top Ten Student Organizations:
• Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL)
• Ateneo EAGLES for Environment, Inc.
• Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)
• Ateneo Paradigm Éclat Xircle (APEX)
• Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)
• Days with the Lord-Women (DWTL-W) 
• Economic Society (ECOSOC)
• Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)
• Media Studies Society (MSS) 
• Uswag Ateneo Junior Eagles

Rugeria places second in JRMSP tilt

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 December, only 20 were chosen for the final selection.

The finalists faced the board of judges led by the OKR Supreme Commander Reghis Romero II. Other judges were the OKR Council of Elders, Rizal’s direct descendant Gemma Cruz-Araneta, JRMSP Chair Lutgardo Barbo and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

Students from University of Cebu – Banilad Campus, Jezreel Erzer Archival and Far Eastern University – Manila, John Michael Lava got the first and third posts, respectively.

Rugeria shared in an interview that the final selection was thrilling yet he enjoyed the question and answer portion.“I must say magayon ang Philosophy program ta, ta without Philosophy dae mo masisimbagan si mga intellectual questions duman,” he said.

The Ateneo offers four core philosophy courses and for Rugeria, that gives the Ateneans an edge in JRMSP.

Previous JRMSP candidates from the university never failed to win for eight consecutive years. Aspirants in the said search were first ranked in 2010. Since then, AdNU candidates secured the first and second posts.

When asked what advantage he got for being a JRMSP awardee, Rugeria said that he does not take his recognition as an advantage or to the disadvantage of another.

He furthered, “I don’t work for recognitions, dae ko ‘yan sinasakat, dae ko ‘yan kinakanap.” Rugeria explained that he does things because he loves doing them, not because he will be awarded afterwards.

He hopes that the students would develop a culture of learning. He also stressed the need to make changes in the society just like what Rizal did.