Forgive me, I just miss Ateneo! 🙂
It’s been only a month and a half since I officially graduated from college but I’m already missing all the fun in the campus! Honestly, I was indifferent a few days after graduation. But when summer officially came in, I realized I have nothing to do aside from bumming, bumming and bumming. I’m missing summer classes, the cafeteria, the Atenews office, the chapel (eng! LOL), cramming, studying (oh yeah baby), the teachers (chos! LOL), the gorgeous schoolmates and everything else in between!
Photo credit: Maye Ponce
So I thought of writing something about my alma mater. 🙂
And since I mentioned about fun, here are the top five reasons why it’s more fun in Ateneo!
But before you check out the rest of the post, I would like to thank my good friend kuya Ogs Ablazo, an Atenews colleague for adding the “more fun” statements on all photos in this post. Thank you! :))
5. BluePAD ( insert bias here *wink* )
Photo from BluePAD.org
I founded this website two years ago in the hope that it will serve as a venue where Ateneans will get a chance to voice out their thoughts to a much larger audience. It is not officially recognized by the school, but the very fact that a lot of Ateneans recognize the blog as their preferred site for updates in campus events and latest ‘who’s whos’, is more than enough for me.
BluePAD showcases latest campus events like Modelo Ateneo, Ateneo Fiesta, College Days and the like. It also features fellow students who are worthy of its space because a lot of Ateneans want to know more about them.
Supporters call it a success, detractors call it a failure. But, I’ll settle on the former. It is by far, the first and the only school blog of its kind in the entire Philippines. Not even Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and others have a blog of the same type.
BluePAD may not be that active anymore these past few months due to lack of people in the team and lack of time, but it will be relaunched this summer. So stay tune. 🙂
4. Teachers and facilities ( for the char. Chos! Love you teachers!)
Well, we have good, if not, the best teachers in the region and one of the best facilities to boot!
Photo from Koi Canarias
To say Ateneo is full of great teachers is overrated, but to say also that Ateneo has no good teachers is an understatement.
Also we have elevators, strong Wifi connection, good buildings, etc. No need to expound. Everyone knows about this. Chos!
3. Ohh so gorgeous, fabulous and glamourous Ateneans! (okk, so gay. LOL)
I can still remember way back when I was still in my early years in college, I wanted to buy a GetBlued shirt with the statement “Kaysarap talaga maging Atenista” printed on it.
Haha. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that.. It really is true. So get me wrong now. Unsa daw? hahaha! Ok alam ko, nakataas na kilay niyo, THIZ IZ ME BLOG! 😛
I think there’s no need to expound this further. I know this is very shallow, but please, wag ng magpaka impokrita. Alam ko at alam niyo na marami talagang poging lalaki, magagandang babae and a mixture of both *you know what I mean* sa Ateneo. *wink* Enough said.
Because of the resident celebrities the university has, AdDU is often seen by many as the local Tinseltown(showbiz-landia) campus in the region. ( Me included.. chos! 😛 )
Photo from Maye Ponce
2. Campus events
Photo from Maye Ponce ( taken during senior Accountancy students’ Exhibit on Consumer Awareness last March 2012 )
ATENEO FIESTA – At the helm of the very dynamic Office of the Student Affairs director, Mr. Rikki Enriquez in coordination with the SAMAHAN student council, the Ateneo Fiesta never fails to bring joy and excitement to the studentry. Fiesta always reaches, even surpasses, students’ expectations by leveling up the Fiesta events even more every year.
Photo from Maye Ponce
I’ll never forget my experience way back first year college. The college fiesta usually starts on a Thursday with students’ parade. During our first year, the parade route was from Ateneo Jacinto campus to Ateneo Matina campus. Imagine what we went through? Walked our way from Jacinto to Ecoland then to Matina under the scorching heat of the sun. *sigh* Those were the days. 🙂
Of course, who on earth and on their right mind would ever miss an Ateneo cheer dance competition? In my four years of stay in AdDU, Cheerdance has always been the most attended, most applauded and most exciting competition during Fiesta. So, don’t ask why students usually line up at their respective division offices on a very early Friday or Saturday morning just to buy their tickets because cheer dance really is THAT exciting and worthy of their effort LOL! I, on the other hand, am just so blessed that I served as the News Editor for Atenews, the official student publication of AdDU, that I usually get complimentary tickets for campus events without a sweat. *wink*
College Days – Celebrated every February, the College Days celebration is something to look forward to since it’s usually tagged as the ‘Ateneo Fiesta on a second semester’ LOL.‘
Awitenista – And yes, who would ever miss this event? It’s Ateneo’s very own search for outstanding campus talents and authentic Atenean music.
Sayawtenista – One of the highlights during Fiesta’s finale, Sayawtenista showcases the best dancers from the nine divisions and invites roars from supporters of every group. It’s also one of the contributing factors why Cheer dance and Sayawtenista ( which are usually held on the same finale night ) tickets are sold on skyrocketing prices during Saturday morning and afternoon. Some filthy and money-driven business-minded students usually sell their own tickets at a high premium.. say selling their PHP20-worth tickets for PHP100 to even PHP800. Of course, the rich loyalistas of Sayawtenista performers still buy it. The other not-so-fortunate, on the other hand, are contented with the monoblock seats and huge simultaneous display at the Finster grounds beside the covered court if they can no longer get into the court.
1. Jesuit Ateneo education (on a serious note LOL)
In the homily of Rev. Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ, University president, during the college Baccalaureate Mass last March 23, he said..
“Many youth only dream of an Ateneo education. Many never even made it to college.”
I have always been a proud product of the public school system, but when I was in elementary, I’ve always dreamt of being in Ateneo. I’ve always wondered how it feels to be in one of the country’s premier Jesuit catholic universities. And if I may add, I’m one lucky human being to have experienced what an Ateneo education is. Many speak ill against its tuition fees and the like, but definitely, the learning and experience outweigh all the expenses.
The strong tradition of the fundamental values of excellence and service have always been representative of what an Ateneo education is. Commitment towards excellence and not perfection, commitment to the ‘whole person formation’, social justice and spirituality are just some of the hallmarks and epitomy of a Jesuit education.
Photo from Paolo Villanueva
Who will ever forget cura personalis, which suggests an individualized attention to the needs of others, or the ‘other-centeredness’? And how about every Atenean’s favorite word magis? To strive for more, to do better and to be better.
To be men and women for others, is also one of the moral virtues that the Ateneo imbues to its students. As what we always say, for the love for and service to others. These are the principles present at the core of the Ateneo spirit, principles I can proudly say, instilled in me and of course, in every Atenean.
Ateneo, in contrary to how others see it with respect to its students, is a university of diverse students.. diverse when it comes to culture, economic background and the like. But despite all these, I learned humility and respect for everything diverse in the university.
And that concludes my list of the top five reasons why I believe, it’s more fun in Ateneo! But of course, the list goes on and on! 🙂
Photo from BluePAD.org
Actually, nagpapaka senti lang naman sana ako ng konti dahil sa ulan.. but look at what I came up with? A blog post with roughly 1400+ word count. LOL
If you are an Atenean, you might want to share your own experience of fun in Ateneo. C’mon, share and let me know what you think! 🙂
Credit to Kuya Ogs Ablazo for editing the pictures! Thanks kuya Ogs! 🙂
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