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...