we build community we nurture hope...

loyolaschoolsbulletinNovember & December 2006Volume IINumber 6 & 7

we build community we nurture hope

Christmas in the Philippines has a way of being touched by asad note, whether it is an economic crisis, a memory of a naturalcalamity, or power outage. Yet we have always found a way tocelebrate with food and tinsel and lights. Like the story of Christ’sbirth, we go through some tough times before experiencing thejoy. This Advent, with the memories of Reming still fresh in ourminds, with the pressures of school work building up, let usrevisit the story of Christ’s birth once more, and allow God’svoice to touch us and put meaning in our hearts.

I have always found Mary’s perspective helpful, because sheis as human as we are and because we, too, are invited to carryChrist in ourselves. We Ateneans would recognize her responseas characteristic of Ignatian Spirituality. Mary’s answer had alwaysone focus: God. Her response had only one stance: openness. Heryes had only one condition: love.

Like Mary, St. Ignatius of Loyola invites us to this kind offocus, to “see Christ more clearly, follow Him more nearly, andlove Him more dearly, day by day.” Like Mary, St. Francis Xaviershares his passion for more possibilities of service, even if theymay be new to us or beyond our comfort zones: the spirit ofmagis. Like Mary, Blessed Peter Faber reminds us that when wesay “yes” to God, we cannot but take genuine care of each otherin the spirit of love.

Reflecting with Mary and the First Companions, ourengagement in disaster relief, research, advocacy, leadershipformation, and a thousand other concerns, may yet find its placein the Nativity story we experience again and again. This seasonis an opportunity to still our hearts and to listen, that we mayknow God’s love.

Mapuno nawa ang ating mga tahanan at puso ng Kapayapaan, Pag-asa, at Pagmamahal ni Kristo ngayong Pasko at sa taong darating!

Last November 22, 2006Ateneo de Manila UniversityLoyola Schools conferred the titleof Emeritus Professor to Dr.Modesto T. Chua of theDepartment of Chemistry, Fr.Roque J. Ferriols, S.J. of theDepartment of Philosophy, Dr.Ramon C. Reyes of theDepartment of Philosophy, andFr. Joseph L. Roche S.J. of theDepartment of Theology.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Ma.Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, VicePresident for the Loyola Schools,elucidated on what the titlesignifies in the institution’s longtradition of excellence in researchand teaching, explaining how thehonor reaffirms Ateneo’s

commitment to education. Inaddition, Dr. Cuyegkengexplained the tough selectionprocess entailed in bestowing thehonor to seasoned facultymembers.

All the honorees in theiracceptance speeches reflected onhow they were shaped by theirown teachers, many of whomwere Jesuits. By reminiscing theirformative years, the awardeespaid a powerful tribute to the roleof mentors in molding not onlyexcellent teachers, but excellentpersons as well.

Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J.President of the Ateneo deManila University conferred the

awards and thanked the facultymembers for their support.Acknowledgments went tofaculty members Jerry Respeto,Gary Devilles, Richard deGuzman, Jethro Tenorio, ArielDiccion, Roy Tolentino, and DMReyes, and students CholoSanchez, Stephen Uy, and JanAlcazar, who, with the assistanceof the Loyola Schools’ Office ofthe Vice President, prepared theshort but elegant program.Capping off the memorableevening was a dinner held inhonor of the awardees. gdevilles

Emeritus ProfessorsAteneopays tribute to

Ma. Assunta C. Cuyegkeng, Ph.D.

ChristmasReflections

A Message from the Vice President for the Loyola Schools

Leong Hall construction underwayGroundbreaking ceremoniesfor the Ricardo and Dr. RositaLeong Hall of the School ofSocial Sciences were held onDecember 4, 2006 at the SocialSciences Garden near thebuilding’s future site. Presentwere members of the Leongfamily including Mr. Ricardo andDr. Rosita Leong, their childrenRichard and Mimi Leong, and JayLeong-Gokongwei, as well asUniversity trustees,administrators, faculty, and staff,and members of the Leong Hall

design team led by Architect JosePedro “Bong” Recio of Recio +Casas Architects.

The morning was sunny as theevent began, with Fr. Aristotle C.Dy, SJ as master of ceremonies.The Ateneo Campus MinistryGroup provided musicalnumbers for the simple butheartfelt program. Brief remarkswere given by Dr. Ma. AssuntaC. Cuyegkeng, Vice President forthe Loyola Schools, Fr. Jose M.Cruz, SJ, Dean of the School of

Social Sciences, Mr. RicardoLeong on behalf of the LeongFamily, and Fr. Bienvenido F.Nebres, SJ.

The administrators were one inthanking the Leong family fortheir generosity and sense ofmission, and in emphasizing thenat ion-bui ld ingpotential of theelegantly designedLeong Hall. Dr. Cuyegkeng wasconfident that the building wouldbe a place “where ideas for social

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Professionalsfor Otherspage 14

Get to know the peoplein your neighborhoodpages 6 and 7

Get a dose of culture,history and scholarshippages 8, 9 and 10

Lending a helpinghand in Bicolpages 6 to 7

for more on theProfessors Emeritussee page 2

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Dr. Ramon C. Reyes, Fr. Roque J. Ferriols, S.J., Dr. Modesto T. Chua, Fr. Joseph L. Roche, S.J.

Mr. Ricardo Leong breaks ground

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loyolaschoolsbulletin2 Volume II, Number 6 & 7

professor

In many a Chemistry major’s wishlist, Dr. Modesto T. Chua’s nameappears as the teacher of choicefor organic chemistry. To thisday, his students continue to holdmuch affection for him. Forgenerations, he has trained

Chemistry majors at theAteneo—in the fields of organicchemistry, organic spectroscopyand synthesis. To thedepartment’s young faculty he hascontinued to be a cheerfulmentor. Many consider that his

If one were to ask “Meron bangFilipino philosopher?” theanswer would have to be “Yes,Roque Angel Jamias Ferriols, S.J.,the philosopher of Meron!”Strange, since Fr. Ferriols hasnever written any article or bookwhich carries the word “Filipino”in its title. Yet it is the deepconviction and the sereneassurance of philosophizing as aFilipino that makes him theundisputed father of Filipinophilosophy.

Born in Manila (PGH) in 1924,Fr. Roque grew up in Sampaloc.He finished his elementarystudies in San Beda and his highschool studies in Ateneo deManila. In 1941, he entered theSociety of Jesus in Novaliches. Asa Jesuit scholastic, he taught atSan Jose Seminary and theAteneo de Manila High School inPadre Faura. He then obtained anSTL from Woodstock College inMaryland and a Ph. D. fromFordham University, with a thesison Sri Aurobindo.

Coming back to the Philippinesin 1959, he taught philosophy inBerchmans College in Cebu forthree years. In 1962, he wasassigned to the Ateneo de Manilawhere he has been waking toinsight generations of Ateneans

until the present (except for aone-year stint as a missionary inMindanao in 1966 and anotheryear in the Retreat Bank in 1967).

Noong 1969, nagsimula si PadreRoque na magturo ng pilosopiyasa wikang Filipino. Nag-iisasiyang nangahas na bigkasin angtunay na umiiral o Meron sakatutubong wika sa panahongIngles lamang ang naghaharingwika sa mga pamantasan atinakala pang tanging wika ng pag-iisip. Tahimik atmapagkumbabang simula iyon nanaging binhi ng tunay napagbabagong-loob, hindi lamangsa loob ng Pamantasang Ateneode Manila kundi sa buong bansarin. Kahawig ito ng pagsusulat niDescartes ng kanyang Discoursde la méthode sa wikang pransesat ng pagsusulat ni Kierkegaardng Enten/Eller sa wikang Danesat hindi na sa Latin.

Ginising ni Padre Ferriols angwikang Filipino sa kanyangsariling kakayahan na bigkasinang Meron. Sa pamamagitan ngtahasang paglalarawan atpagpapaliwanag ng karanasan sawikang Filipino, naipakita niPadre Ferriols kung paanokumakagat o nag-uugat ito satunay na umiiral o Meron sabukod tanging paraan. Pinayaman

life as a professor and chemistryprofessional offers the idealtemplate for those with nobleaspirations in the field.

Dr. Chua’s education traces backto the Ateneo High School where

PROFESSORDR. MODESTO T. CHUA

din ni Padre Ferriols angkatutubong kalinangan nangisulat niya ang kanyangPambungad sa Metapisika(1990) at nang sikapin niyangmagsalita sa Filipino ang mgadakilang pilosopo tulad ninaHerakleitos, Platon, San Agustin,Sto.Tomas, Marcel, Heidegger,Teilhard de Chardin, Chuang-Tzuat iba pa.

Fr. Ferriols has been a Jesuit forsixty five years (the only “true

genius” in the PhilippineProvince of the Society of Jesus,according to the noble historianHoracio de la Costa). If oneincludes his high school studies,he has been in the Ateneo deManila for almost fifty years. Hehas been teaching at the Ateneode Manila for almost forty fiveyears, for more than half of hislife. Much of Fr. Ferriols’teaching has remained with hisstudents because as Fr. Arevaloobserved, even when Fr. Ferriolsteaches from books, he teachesfrom himself—from his mindand heart—and from life.

Atenean, Jesuit, priest,philosopher, teacher, Fr Ferriolswill be known to futuregenerations simply as “Padre”—the Philosopher of Meron.

Sa kanyang pagtuturo at buhay,ginising niya ang di-mabilangbilang na mag-aaral ang isangwalang sawang pagmamahal parasa katutubong wika, sa InangBayan, sa mga kababayan at parasa di maubos-maisip, di masabi-sabing nguni’t kailangan pa ringsabihin—ang Hiwagangpinagmumulan ng Meron. lmgarcia

FR. ROQUE J. FERRIOLS, S.J

he was valedictorian of his class,and to the Ateneo de ManilaUniversity, where he graduatedmagna cum laude in 1957, withdouble degrees in Philosophy andChemistry. In 1962, he went toGermany for his Diplom-Chemiker. Two years after, heacquired the Doctorate inPhysical Organic Chemistry(magna cum laude) from theUniversity of Bonn. At Bonn,he worked as Research Associateto Professor Rudolf Tschesche.There he received the singulardistinction of being namedFellow of the prominentAlexander von HumboldtFoundation. Large pharma-ceutical and chemical companiesabroad pursued him fiercely butDr. Chua’s magis directed himelsewhere. He had chosen tocome home, earmarking hisHumboldt Fellowship grant topurchase state-of-the-artinstrumentation for the Ateneo.The decision established alaboratory that serviced the needsof the local industry—launchingtoday’s Philippine Institute for Pureand Applied Chemistry (PIPAC).

Dr. Chua enjoys regard not onlyas a teacher and scholar ofscience but also as a Chemistryprofessional. Since 1973, he hasbeen Director of PIPAC, a dutythat he continues to exercisetoday. He also sits as member ofthe University Research Council(URC) and has served asconsultant to many companies,including UNILAB and theBeecham Group. He has chairedmany technical committeesconvened by the DOST,PCHRD, the ASEAN, andUNESCO.

For such tireless dedication, thehonors have not been wanting,including the 2004 PhilippineFederation of Chemistry SocietiesAward in Chemical Industry, theOutstanding Chemist Award by theProfessional RegulationCommission and by theIntegrated Chemists of thePhilippines, and the OutstandingScientist Award by the PhilippineAssociation for the Advancementof Science. epenriquez

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3we build community we nurture hopeNovember & December 2006

emeritusAs a philosophy teacher, RamonC. Reyes bears both in his life anddemeanor everything that the

The steady achievements of Fr.Joseph L. Roche, S.J. reflect hisIgnatian way of life, in giving ofhimself to “the progress of soulsin Christian life and doctrine andthe propagation of the faith.”His critical passion disarms us,articulately at work with a forcethat lets our faith speakeffectively. And a deep love forthe Church he holds, making hismission possible, so that FilipinoCatholics may live with a trueintegration of doctrine, morals,and worship.

Fr. Roche began his career in1963 at Berchman’s College andSan Jose Seminary, teachingPhilosophy of God and Philosophy ofMan. At the Loyola School ofTheology (LST), he saw the needfor a trained philosopher to bepart of the faculty, to underscorevital links between the twodisciplines. This philosophicalbackground inspired him to

E M E R I T U Sword gentleman implies. Wearingthe thinker’s mantle, he sees theworld from the heights of

reflection, cutting to the truth ofphenomenon. With his vision, hehas guided generations of

students, policy-making panels inacademe, philosophical circles,and even educational institutions.

For over forty years since 1965,Dr. Reyes has taught philosophyat the Ateneo de Manila. As ateacher, he embodies curapersonalis—with an open ear to thecuriosities and wonderment ofyoung life. This way, he hasshaped generations ofAteneans—in their diversecareers and persuasions. Lawyers,CEOs, managers, and priests owehim their ethical worldview.

As head of the PhilosophyDepartment for more than adecade, from 1968-1981, he layon the groundwork that will honeit as the country’s future centerof excellence. Dr. Reyescontinues to serve as one of itsmost valuable advisers. Theuniversity has had benefit of hisdiscernment, by electing himTrustee from 1970-73 and, thenagain, from 1994-2005. His shareof vision for improving the

standard of national educationhas found expression as presidentof the Philippine AccreditingAssociation of Schools, Colleges,and Universities (PAASCU) from1987 to the present and, for threeterms, as president of theFederation of AccreditingAgencies of the Philippines.

From his book Ground and Normof Morality to his various journalpublications and papers, hisscholarship demonstrates thelimpid, elegant, and preciseexpression of the most complexphilosophical insights. In hisexpositions, one follows clearly thethoughts of the great thinkers andcomes close to the sources of theirenlightenment. He succeeds inexplaining the heart of even themost obscure philosophers. Thus,not only students but also teachershave drawn much from hisinterpretations. A string of awardsconfirms this, capped by TheMetrobank Award for MostOutstanding Teacher in 1987.amrodriguez

design a new course integratingnovel ideas on the human subjectand the “healing and elevatingpower of divine grace.”

At the Ateneo de Manila, Fr.Roche directed the TheologyDepartment to articulatefundamental ideas about thenature, function, and mission ofa Catholic Jesuit university. Thishas helped in crafting a unique setof courses in view of a new kindof college theology. His visionaffirms that education in theCatholic Faith is a life-longprocess. Every dimension offaith demands serious study,research, and revision.

For thirty-five years, Fr. Rochehas been involved in teachingcatechists at the Mother of LifeCatechists Formation Center. In1978, he established the FormationInstitute of Religion Educators, morepopularly known as FIRE. A

project of the TheologyDepartment and LST, FIREoffers religion teachers andcoordinators full scholarships fora Masters degree in ReligiousEducation and TheologicalStudies. This four-summer cycleprogram stresses the holistic useof sources in training thecatechetical workforce foreffective leadership, torevolutionize the Church’s impacton the present world.

Because of these involvements,Fr. Roche was commissioned towork on the Catechism for FilipinoCatholics. The Congregation ofthe Doctrine of Faith gave itapproval in 1996. Along with theNational Catechetical Directory of thePhilippines, equally the fruit of Fr.Roche’s passion, the CFC is thefundamental source forcatechesis in the country today.mlcnatividad

DR. RAMON C. REYES

FR. JOSEPH L. ROCHE, S.J.

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Leong Hall construction underway (from page 1)

transformation will be born.” Fr.Cruz remarked on how thebuilding’s design “allows air andlight to flow in,” making theSchool of Social Science’s visionof transforming society that

Joanna Ruiz, editorDoy Dulce, designerBj A. Patiño, photographercontributing writers for vol II. Nos. 6 and 7: Michelle CamilleCorrea, Gary C. Devilles, Erwin P. Enriquez, Leovino Ma. Garcia,Erlinda Eileen G. Lolarga, Ma. Lucia C. Natividad, Rick Olivares,Noel del Prado, Agustin Martin Rodriguez, Sherilyn Siy, ArturoValencia, Frances Vega, Catherine Vistro-Yu

additional photos courtesy of: Jomar Fajardo, Melencio Gallardo,Jr., OMIOD, Joanna Ruiz, Sherilyn Siy, Frances Vega, CatherineVistro-Yu, Henson Wongaiham, Alyson Yap

with the assistance of: Ricardo Abad, Ateneo Art Gallery, RofelBrion, Fr. Luis David, SJ, Homer Galido, Office of AdministrativeServices, Office of Social Concern and Involvement, PhysicalEducation Program, Maribel Sison-Dionisio, Tanghalang Ateneo,University Archives, University Physical Plant

Loyola Schools Bulletin ©2006 (issn:1656-8354) is publishedmonthly by the Office of Research and Publications,2/F Gonzaga Hall, Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila Univer-sity, Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights, Quezon City

e-mail: [email protected] address: POBox 154, Manila 0917, Philippinestelephone (632) 4266001 local 5002fax (632) 4266096http://www.ateneo.edu > Loyola Schools > LoyolaSchoolsBulletin

loyolaschoolsbulletinOffice of theVice President for the Loyola Schools

much easier to attain by “lettingthe people within engage theworld beyond.” Fr. Nebresrecounted the events which ledto the Leongs’ involvement in theAteneo, beginning with the

we rememberTeodulo Novelero, formerly with the Office of AdministrativeServices, who passed away on December 8, 2006. Mang Ted, ashe was universally known, is remembered by many as a perennialpresence at his former Kostka Hall office. He was also the fatherof Ma. Shiela P. Novelero, long-time Ateneo Language LearningCenter secretary.

Maximo V. Soliven, GS’41, HS ’47, AB ’51, Ozanam Awardee ’70,who passed away on November 24, 2006 at the age of 77. He wasManaging Editor of the Guidon, Editor-in-Chief of the Ateneo Quar-terly, and co-Editor-in-Chief of the Aegis, among other literary ac-tivities in the Ateneo. Of Ateneans, he once wrote, “Ateneans, if theyare true to their training are…the race whom God made mad. Theyare their brother’s keepers. I like to think that they fight for the people—particularly the weak, defenseless, and the poor—and not themselves.Often enough they falter, turn away from their goals, are seduced orwaylaid by material things. But in their hearts, nor matter how deeplyburied and ignored, they know where their priorities should lie. To

shake the world. To struggle for justice and a square deal for everyone. To seek the Kingdom ofGod.” In his long and storied journalistic career, ending as Chairman of the Board and publisherof the daily The Philippine Star, he embodied the Atenean he had written of. “The Atenean is anagent of change—because he dares to insist on change.”

ErratumWe failed to acknowledge Patricia Alexis Yu-Dominguez as the author of the article “Glee ClubRocks Europe” printed in our vol. II, no. 5 (October 2006) issue. We apologize for the oversight.

Ricardo Leong Center forChinese Studies, and reflected onthe history of the Jesuits in China,citing St. Francis Xavier’s visionand audacity in “pushing intonew territories,” and MatteoRicci’s example of scholarship,ending with an exhortation tofind out what more can be doneto deepen the dialogue betweenChina and the Philippines. In hisremarks, Mr. Leong thanked all

concerned for the two years ofplanning and work that had goneinto preparations for the LeongHall, and thanked Arch. Recio fordesigning a “beautiful buildingfor all of us to enjoy.”

Blessing of the construction sitewas carried out by Frs. Nebres andCruz, along with Fr. Jose CecilioMagadia, SJ, and Fr. RobertoBuenconsejo, SJ. Fr. Cruz presidedover the groundbreakingceremonies which featured theplacing of mementos into a time

capsule by the Leong family,School of Social Sciencesdepartment chairs and programdirectors, and other University andLoyola Schools administrators.Ground was broken by Mr. andDr. Leong and their children,along with Fr. Nebres, Dr.Cuyegkeng, and Arch. Recio.

Construction of the Ricardo andDr. Rosita Leong Hall of theSchool of Social Sciences istargeted for completion inSeptember 2007.

photos by Melencio Gallardo, Jr.


Some 350 faculty membersfilled Escaler Hall to capacity toattend a special forum called bythe Vice President for the LoyolaSchools, Dr. Ma. Assunta C.Cuyegkeng, on November 17,2006. The meeting sought toupdate the faculty and elicitcomments on key pointsimpinging on the future ofLoyola Schools.

Dr. Cuyegkeng welcomed thelarger-than-usual assembly,touching on the forum’s objectiveto engage the faculty in livelierdiscussions, this time on threeimportant issues: (a) the core

curriculum, (b) its organization,and (c) PAASCU accreditation.

Core CurriculumFr. Jose Cecilio Magadia, SJ,Associate Dean for AcademicAffairs, led the discussions on thereview of the Revised CoreCurriculum which the schoolimplemented in 1998. His teamwill conduct a survey to evaluateif the changes in the curriculumwere indeed put into operationand were in fact effective ininstilling the sort ofcontemporary competencies thatAteneo wanted for its graduates.Fr. Jose M. Cruz, SJ, Dean of

School of Social Sciences,revisited the circumstances of theground-breaking 1998 study, toprovide the context to theplanned survey.

The revisions focused on suchtransformational themes asstudent-centered learning,flexibility, inter-disciplinarity andintegration. These themes, inturn, translated to concreteoperational changes like reducingthe number of core units andclassifying courses into “innerand outer core.” The Magadia-ledretrospective, which involvesschool units and outside partiestoo, is expected to determine ifthe whole scheme worked, andwill establish the template forfuture similar exercises.

RestructuringDr. Darwin Yu, head of thecommittee on restructuring,presented the plan to rate howwell the school’s restructuringplan in 2000 was implemented. Inthat landmark year, the College ofArts and Sciences (headed by oneDean) was reorganized into fourschools, each under a differentDean and all reporting to theVice President of what werecollectively called LoyolaSchools.

Noong ika-4 ng Oktubre,2006, inilunsad ang aklat ng mgapili at bagong tula ni Rofel G.Brion na pinamagatang Sandali.

Pinalad akong maging bahagi ngmahiwagang gabi ng paglulunsadng pinakabagong aklat ni Rofel. Mahiwaga, mula sa mga kartongdahon na iba’t ibang kulay, nag-anyayang pumasok at nagtuturong tamang daan sa kung saanpagtatagpuin ang lahat ngpapalarin sa gabing iyon. Angmusika ng mga Heswita,umaalingawngaw ang: “Ito’y sapat

na, Diyos lamang,” ang nagtakda ngtono para sa buong gabi. Angmusikang hatid ng tinig ngkaibigang si Sr. Bubbles Bandojo,ng itinatanging inaanak na siIgnacio Cuyegkeng na naghatidng piyesa ng solong gitara, at ngplawta ni Jay Gomez ay sabay nanagpalaot sa diwa ng mgadumalo, sa tahimik napagdiriwang, at sabik napagtanggap sa pag-apaw ngbiyaya—sa mga kataga at mgasandali, mula sa buhay ng isangmakatang ipinagbubunyi ngpamayanan ng Ateneo sa gabing

Ang Sandal i‘Tanging Payapa’ ng

ito ng pasasalamat at mulingpagtitipon.

At angkop na angkop angganitong pagsalubong samakatang buena mano ng Office ofthe Research and Publications(ORP) ng Ateneo, sa kanyangunang aklat na Baka Sakali maylabinlimang taon na angnakalilipas, at ngayo’y siyangunang hain ng ORP sa kabubukaslamang na Loyola SchoolsBookstore. Nagbasa ng kanilangmga paboritong tula ang ilan sakanyang mga itinatangingkaibigan: Dr. Soledad Reyes, Dr.Benilda Santos, EduardoCalasanz, Dr. Benjamin Tolosa,Dr. Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, atSr. Bubbles Bandojo.

Ito ang una kong tanong sa akingmaiikling panayam sa kanya:“Bakit Sandali ang napili mongpamagat para sa ‘yongkoleksiyon?” Natigilan siya athumingi ng ilang sandali upangmatugunan ang tanong na ito.

Sabi niya, “Ano ba ang sandalikung hindi ‘wala,’ mga hungkagna sisidlan, na kung hindi mo

pupunan, ay mananatiling wala.”Hindi niya maitanggi ang kamayng kanyang paboritong makata nasi Rilke, mula sa pagpili ng pinaka-payak na bagay na tutulaan, samalinaw na impluwensiya ngAklat ng mga Oras sa mga tulaniyang malinaw na pakikipag-usap sa Maykapal, hanggang samalutong na paghawak niya samga imahen.

Sinabi pa ni Rofel, noongkanyang kabataan, nakasusulatsiya kung siya ay malungkot. Sakanyang pagtubo sa kanyangsining, natauhan siyang hindikalungkutan ang kanyangkailangan. Kailangan daw palaniya ang tahimik na pag-iisa.

Mula sa imahen ng kwerdas satulang Kulang mula sa aklat,maaaring maunawaan angbatayan at nag-iisang obsesyon samga tula ni Rofel—angpaghahanap at paghahangad sa“sandali” ng “tanging payapa.”

Sa sandali ng tanging payapa,nagiging posible ang pagdarasal,pagmamahal, at paglikha.

Special faculty forumkey issueson

Though disparate in focus andconcerns, the four schools—Humanities, Science andEngineering, Social Sciences andManagement—shared one visionand identical operational norms,following a primordial set of“non-negotiable principles.” Dr.Yu reported that the new set-upwas for the most part put intoplace, save for minor variations.The committee he heads is taskedto evaluate the fit between planand practice and prescribeupdates to the existing structure,given new strategic directions,and will submit its report byFebruary 2007.

PAASCUDr. Celeste Gonzalez reportedthat the LS Graduate Programs

will undergo preliminaryaccreditation by PAASCU in mid-December. She shared the resultsof the recent Self-Survey thatundergone by LS, identifyingAteneo’s excellent qualitybenchmarks in seven keyresource areas that the PAASCUteam will inspect and evaluate.These areas are: faculty,curriculum and instruction,research, students, library,administration, and otherresources.

Fr. Daniel McNamara, SJ led theinvocation. Dr. Benjamin Tolosa,Jr. was master of ceremonies.The discussions that followedeach presentation were, as Dr.Cuyegkeng hoped, lively andspirited. avalencia

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A clean, well-kept, and secureLoyola Schools campus, well-appointed facilities, classrooms touse for student activities andmeetings, a well-stocked primarycare infirmary with friendly doctorsand nurses—these are things wemay take for granted as part of lifein LS. For the Office ofAdministrative Services (OAS), it isa constant, daily race to make thelives of LS faculty and staffcomfortable, safe, and healthy.

With a total of 57 staff members(excluding security guards, ascampus security falls under theUniversity Physical Plant’s area ofresponsibility), the OAS is in chargeof the following areas within LS:non-teaching staff, physical plantmatters including construction,coordination with the campussecurity office, cafeteria operations,health services, audio-visualfacilities, campus maintenance,duplication, and room reservations.In a recent talk with Loyola SchoolsBulletin, OAS Director Lourdes“Ditsy” Sumpaico and key OASstaff shed light on exactly what theydo, and why they do it gladly andwith a smile.

The people in your neighborhoodJoy Rodriguez-Salita handles staffdevelopment for the more than 150permanent staff members at LS.She coordinates with the Personnel

Office on hiring, benefits, andpolicy matters, and in turn relaysguidelines to LS staff. Another bigcomponent is the staffdevelopment program which aimsto care for staff members on a moreholistic level. Activities are classifiedunder the faith-strengthening,work-life balance, skills andknowledge upgrading categories,and there are also the annual familyday and staff rest and recreationactivities. In organizing all these,OAS is sure to consult staff on theirneeds to maximize the effectivenessof the offerings.

Engr. Jun Granada supervises theentire LS maintenance staff whichtotals 39. For more efficientcommunication and division ofresponsibilities, the staff has beendivided into three groups—3K, 3M,and Road Star—each of which wasnamed by its members, and coversa specific area within LS. There arealso team leaders for each shift(there are two shifts per day). Apartfrom keeping buildings and groundsspic and span, maintenance staff arealso counted on to assist in logisticalrequirements for different LSevents. Pre-shift meetings are heldeveryday to relay updates, schedules,and guidelines. The meetings arealso venues for the staff to air theirconcerns on various issues, whichare then passed on to OAS forproper action. The staff has lounges

in each area, and work is monitoredvia radio.

Eng. Ely Pan is in charge of the LSphysical plant—that is, making surethat the LS grounds and facilitiesare safe and clean, and that anyneeded repairs are made. Studentsare familiar with Kat Faustino, whotakes care of room and facilityreservations. Freddie Marzan, ReyCorpuz, Mario de la Cruz, and TengGelsano take care of the LS audio-visual rooms. Manning theinfirmary along Kostka Hall areDrs. Jocyline Yotoko and Henriettade la Cruz, along with registerednurses Marivic Flores and Ma.Farah Oledan-Movido. BennyRabara is the go-to man forduplicating needs. Arch. MikeCanlas works with Universityoffices on the construction of newbuildings. This year alone saw theinauguration of three newbuildings—the Manuel VPangilinan Center for StudentLeadership, the Matteo Ricci StudyHall, and the JGSOM StudentEnterprise Center. Construction ofstudent kiosks is ongoing, and workon the Ricardo and Dr. RositaLeong Hall of the School of SocialSciences is soon to begin.

Future plans include a reevaluationand possible restructuring of theOAS structure in order tostreamline functions. Many will also

be glad to hear that staff expansionis part of the plan for the much-visited and oftentimes congestedinfirmary.

Service with a smileSuch a vast scope of work requiresmuch organization and efficiency.According to the OAS team,challenges are easy to face first ofall because systems have alreadybeen put in place, and secondly,because of the team culture thatpervades the entire group. Mrs.Sumpaico describes the team’svision thus: “To serve and respondto the needs of the community, andto do it with joy and respect foreveryone’s needs, while puttingChrist in the center of ouroperations.” She adds that part ofthe OAS culture is striking a balancebetween work and family. “We’re afamily-oriented team. We can carefor the school because we care forour families.” This is refreshing tohear in a culture that seems bent on

chasing down deadlines and gettingmore work done in less time,oftentimes at the expense ofstaffmembers’ well-being.

The OAS team wholeheartedlyagrees with Mrs. Sumpaico’s attitudeand approach, and puts theirsupport solidly behind her. “We areable to weather the challengesbecause we have a good leader,”says Joy Salita. Engr. Ely Panfocuses on the team’s serviceorientation when he jokes, “AngOAS ay parang bahay, at si Mrs.Sumpaico ang mayordoma.” Thismay sound funny at first, but it doesbring out the deeper truth thateveryone in the office, including itsdirector, is there to serve. Care forthe family and self, caring servicefor the school. With a foundationthis solid, it’s easy to believe Engr.Jun Granada when he concludes,“We are working from good togreat!”

The University Dream Team isaptly named. Initially an all-Loyola Schools team, and now acollaboration between thedifferent University units andheaded up by the Office of Social

Concern and Involvement(OSCI) in terms of logistics, thedisaster relief operations groupenters areas where dreams haveall but died, and are one with thepeople there in trying to see blue

skies beyond dark ravagingclouds.

During the month of October,the Dream Team worked withSimbahang Lingkod ng Bayan toconduct six relief operations intyphoon-battered areas. Reliefgoods were collected from allover the Ateneo, and distributedto OSCI-connected areas inLaguna, Navotas, and Pasig.

Early December saw the team andits volunteers traveling to Nagaand Albay in Bicol to assistcommunities hit by devastatingmudslides.

OSCI stalwarts An Manapat,Robert Aguilar, and EllerSantiago outline how the DreamTeam works. Code white: Atyphoon hits, and a call tomonitor the situation is activated.

Reports come in from differentareas. The assessment teammakes a decision on whethercertain areas should be assistedfollowing a set of criteria whichincludes the nature andmagnitude of the disaster,demographics, institutionsalready providing assistance tothe affected area, and affinity. Onthrough Codes Yellow andOrange which constitute

Dreaming ofThe University Dream Team

Blue Skies

First row: Joy Salita, Ditsy Sumpaico, Carmen Mojica Second row: Kat Faustino, MarioDela Cruz, Freddie Marzan Third row: Ace Umayam, Alice Fausto, Engr. Ely PanFourth row: Benny Rabara, Engr. Jun Granada Fifth row: Rey Corpuz, Teng GelsanoLast row: Arch. Mike Canlas

The Office of Administrative ServicesThe “good to great” team

First row: Danny Oliveros, Roger Alabat, Ruben Yanson, Nestor Cagape, Jesus Manuel, Jesus Resuello, Wenefredo Legada, DaryllAmado, Ferdinand De Guzman Second row: Ricky Obrar, Estilita Navarro, Jocelyn Blanquera, Romana Rimorin, Maylalin Ganzon,Jocelyn Bayrante, Miraflor Orello Third row: Jessie Cordova, Ruben Cabacungan, Leonardo Boquiren, Danilo Ferrer, Norvie Butulan,Nemesio Digos, Manny Avila, Reynaldo Duey, Manuel Rico, Allan Romano, Bonifacio Dicen, Nicanor Rosario Fourth row: AdrianoFerrer, Richardo Gabito, Norberto Canonigo, Elvis Taladro, Larry Palaming, Arnold Bayog, Cenon Tapel, Arvin Pajarillo, MichaelAspera, Jong Seguenza Not in the picture: Romy Cabacungan, Arvin Villegas, Vanessa Vargas

Jocyline Yotoko, MD Henrietta de la Cruz, MD

Ma. Farah Oledan-Movido, RN Marivic Flores, RN

LS Infirmary

photos by Joanna Ruiz

photos courtesy of the Office of Social Concern and Involvement


The University Physical Planttakes responsibility for all threecampuses of the Ateneo deManila when it comes to servicesinvolving utilities (power andwater), security, communication,traffic management,infrastructure, and parking.Minor services include trashcollection and making sure thesewage system is working bothwithin campus and immediatelyoutside the campus. To deliverservices and monitordevelopments more effectivelyand efficiently given the breadthand scope of its area ofresponsibility, this CentralAdministration unit maintainstwo offices, namely: Physical

Plant-Loyola for the LoyolaHeights Campus and PhysicalPlant-Makati which covers theAteneo Professional Schoolslocated in the Rockwell andSalcedo campuses. In terms ofactual administrative jurisdiction,the Physical Plant takes chargeof the areas not covered by theGrade School, High School, andLoyola Schools at the LoyolaCampus; the ProfessionalSchools at the two MakatiCampuses, and all the studentparking areas. Housekeepingconcerns, better known asjanitorial services, however, is notamong its tasks as this is alreadyassigned to each unit’s respectiveadministrative offices.

How does one manage such anobviously vast and diversedomain? Mr. Leoncio “Lee”Miralao, Physical PlantAdministrator, meets with hispeople on a weekly basis. He hasdecentralized the work to be doneamong the various section headsand makes them accountable tohim for results. These sectionsare: the Campus Network Group,Carpentry/Painting, CentralSwitchboard, Communication/IT, Electrical/Air Conditioning &Refrigerator, Grounds/Mechanical, Operations Center,Operations Support, andPlumbing/Welding. Each sectionhead has an assistant to help carryout their respective tasks. ForCampus Security, his officecoordinates with the headassigned to the security agencycontracted by the University totake care of the round the clocksecurity guards of the differentcampuses.

Known for his “military” style ofhandling things down to keepingthe precise time of the day, Mr.Miralao quips that “fear” isanother factor that keeps his men(and women) employees in line.Perhaps this reputation comes hisexpectations of his crew such as

being very punctual whencoming to work—they all reportat least 15 minutes ahead of timefor their shifts; reporting resultsof his orders to them no matterwhat the outcome is (be itsuccess or failure); and when hedoes give an order (which hesmilingly adds is given with “loveand affection”), it must be donewith “lightning speed.” He is afirm believer in the element ofsurprise—his people are kept ontheir toes just in case he shoulddrop by for a brief inspection.“Di dapat nagugulat—always beaware and ready.” As in the military,he says that 50% of the battle iswon by the element of surprise.He brooks no excuses whenorders are not carried out well,which brings to mind anotherfavorite adage of his: “When youissue an order it is only 1% of the wholething. The rest of the 99% is makingsure that instructions are clear, makingcertain that it is done, and if it isactually done.”

He takes pride in pointing outthat when there are typhoons andother calamitous events, theirgroup would be the first torespond. They are ready to getup at 2:00 am duringemergencies. Backed up by a 24/7 set of security guards trainedto report developments oncampus (and to listen to the radiofor news), he is on call at all times:“I sleep with a cellphone and alandline.” His two senior officeassistants reporting at the CentralAdministration office, Virginia“Ghee” de Pano, and AnellinPerez are likewise always on call,not just for class suspensions dueto inclement weather or coupd’etats, but for University holidaysas well. His staff makes sure thecentral switchboard and phonelines are kept going even during

University holidays and longbreaks. They are also be dependedon to inform Mr. Miralao aboutcampus matters via emailwhenever he goes abroad.

His brand of managementapparently has worked very wellin institutionalizing a system ofaccountability that is focused ongetting quick and effective results.The Physical Plant crew have an“on call” mentality. One can sensea pervasive esprit d’corps amongmembers of the group whichmakes each one of them proudof their unit, proud to wear theiruniform, and careful of notbringing shame to their office bydoing no less than the best withtheir assigned tasks. As Mr.Miralao affirmed, they have theirown self-respect. In turn, he doesnot hesitate to take responsibilitywhen he reports to the UniversityPresident, Fr. Bienvenido F.Nebres, S.J., for any work thatmay have bogged down.

His staff agree that he is strictwhen it comes to work but that hehas mellowed through the years:Marunong na siyang maglambing.” Itwasn’t always easy at the start, buttraining under him has made themdo their duty and service wellwithout expecting anything inreturn: “Hindi nakatutok sa oras;masaya ka na nagawa mo siya (hisorders).” At the end of the day,Mr. Miralao, having been in theservice since the late 1980s(replacing Col. Pedro Dimayuga)and looking toward the future,acknowledges that nobody isindispensable. He is happy thatsystems and procedures have beenestablished and can be modified asneeded. Whoever takes his placecan do a good job if not better.The orientation is to get thingsdone. eeglolarga

Mission PossibleThe University Physical Plant Office Its Motto:“The impossible we immediately do, miracles take a

little longer.”

Its Mission: To maintain, secure, and where possibleimprove physical fixed assets (buildings, grounds, roadsystem, utilities, etc.) of the entire University.

preparatory stages. Code red: Allcommittees are activated,volunteers are recruited, reliefgoods solicited, collected,packaged, and distributed to theselected areas. Code Blueconstitutes a decision to stoprelief efforts. Code Green signalsthe start of rehabilitation work.A spectrum of activity denoting

different kinds of work anddifferent degrees of involvement,and founded on totalcommitment.

Asked about the recruitment ofvolunteers, they explain that ifthe disaster is on a smaller scale,then usually involvement isconfined to LS offices and

students. More large-scaledisasters such as the ones broughtby supertyphoons Milenyo andReming require the involvementof different University units. LSstudents are not required toparticipate in the relief operationsas part of their socialinvolvement requirements, butmany of them still do volunteer.

At the core group of thevolunteers are OSCI staffers whoare always on standby, whoconsider Dream Team operationsas part of their work, and whoconsider the people in manyaffected areas their friends. AnManapat ref lects that as apersonal relationship with peoplein the areas grow, as it has for theOSCI staff and LS students whohave gotten to know the areasthrough repeated or extended

visits, the usual relationship ofgiver and receiver no longerapplies. “There is healing forboth sides, you are helping eachother,” she says. Fatigue anddepression are very realpossibilities for Dream Teamregulars, but as OSCI formatorBob Pamisa puts it, “hindinakakapagod kasi tumutulong kasa tumutulong sa ‘yo.” FormatorGranni Granados feels the same

way, being “energized by thepeople (in the area).”

So it goes. Typhoons will hit,possibly bringing flooding andmudslides in their wake. Whenthat happens, the Dream Teamwill go through its codes, fromwhite to blue, and possibly green,going on with their work ofhelping and dreaming with theirfriends.

Disater REsponse And Management TEAM

Go-to guys: (first row) Paciano M. Asence Jr., Celso A. Leynes Jr., Antonio L. Verganio, Richard M. Pitpit, Leonardo D. Digo,Domingo R. Raza, (second row) Josel M. Acido, Domingo D. Dicen, Fidel R. Manaog, Damian M. Palmero, Mario C. Boco, Rolando P.Malapitan, Arturo T. Avila, Francisco G. Cajatol, Remelito C. Salinas, Higino E. Hermano, Troy A. de la Cruz, Esilo D. Andoy, Edwin D.Macasias, Alfredo B. Garcia, Eugene U. Bulatao, Josephy F. Almosera, Constantino C. Plaza, Cesar A. Balbos. Not in photo: RodolfoC. Almazan, Velilyn R. Catubig, Rolando M. Enriquez, Allan D. de Guia, Isabel P. Hugo, Leoncio D. Miralao, Jr., Asterio C. Sadia

Keeping you connected: (clockwise from top) Anellin A. Perez, Ma. Virginia R. DePano, Charmee D. Savellano, Julia C. Magtibay

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The Rizal Library is arguably atthe heart of the scholarly life ofthe Loyola Schools. Given its178,514 books (221,094volumes), 726 print, and morethan 18,000 online periodicalsubscriptions, 10,000 rolls ofmicrofilm, 25,000 microfiches,and 1.654 titles (2,951 volumes)of multimedia materials, it isappropriately named after theerudite national hero and Ateneoalumnus. It also has one of themost extensive and valuableFilipiniana collections in thecountry.

The Rizal Library has beensteadily increasing its holdingsand improving its facilities sincethe original building opened its

doors in 1921, when the Ateneowas still in Intramuros. In 1967,the first library building in theLoyola campus was inaugurated.

The latest addition to the libraryis its premises in the Matteo RicciHall. According to librarydirector Lourdes T. David, it isconceived as a “paperless library”where users can accessinformation online from both theRizal Library websites and itsmany links. The building, locatedat the farthest end of the ScienceEducation Complex, has twosilent study rooms for 120students on the first floor andtwo group study rooms, each ofwhich can seat 60 students, on thesecond. The balcony, which also

RizalLibraryAt the heart ofLoyola Schools’scholarly life

serves as a group study area, willsoon house outlets serving snacksand drinks. Given the new groupstudy rooms, noise in the mainlibrary, which has exceeded thelevel of whispered civilities, isexpected to decrease.

In the main library itself theupgrades are more than cosmetic.Checking out a book is moreconvenient, both for library usersand library staff, with the newself-check machine. Withstudents serving themselves, thecirculation staff can “attend topending jobs,” as Mrs. Davidexplains. This system, in heropinion, will translate into greaterefficiency. Faculty members canalso have books delivered to theirdepartments by simply callingCirculation.

A visitor’s registrationmachine, installed upon therecommendation ofReference librarian SusanPador, provides addedsecurity. Explains Mrs. David,“it will help us control ‘visitors’coming in, some of whom arenot ‘legitimate,’ meaning theydo not register and simply go inand use our facilities. Otherpeople use the name of staffmembers to enter the library.With the new machine, visitorsare required to register at theentrance. As they register, theirphoto and personal details arereflected at the information deskcomputer. If they are visitors, theguard can call the staff memberto be visited for clearance.”

Ongoing and upcoming projectsinclude digitizing Jose Rizal’swritings and uploading theabstracts of theses anddissertations. In the future, eventhe first 24 pages of theses and

dissertations may also beuploaded to the Rizal librarywebsite at www.rizal.lib.admu.edu.ph.“Copyright waiver is beingrequested from authors,” reportsMrs. David. “Faculty can help byrequesting their students toaccomplish a copyright waiverform before submitting theirthesis.” In addition, fournewspaper titles have beendigitized. “We are now working

on a system to make it availableonline within the campus.”

Thus, it is, as it has always been, abusy time at the Rizal Library. Withcontinual improvement of itsfacilities and aggressive acquisitionof the latest publications, it iskeeping in step with globaltrends—a reflection, one wouldlike to believe, of the intellectuallife of the Loyola Schools. jochua

photos by Bj A. Patiño


The University Archives islocated on the ground floor ofthe Rizal Library Annex at theLoyola Heights Campus, where ithas been housed since 1989. Asthe keeper of the history of theAteneo, serving as theadministrative memory of theinstitution, it has been designatedas the central repository of non-current records of theadministrative offices, academicdepartments, and studentorganizations. This CentralAdministration unit’s archivalprogram is to collect, preserveand make accessible materials ofhistorical value to qualifiedresearchers. From its formalestablishment in 1958 — asproposed by Father Horacio dela Costa, S.J. (then Chairman ofHistory Dept. of the College ofArts and Sciences) andimmediately approved by FatherRector Leo A. Cullum, S.J. — theUniversity Archives has moved todifferent locations at least twotimes while steadily acquiring awealth of resources along theway. Its storehouse of Universitymemorabilia continues to growtoday under the watchful eyes ofits present head, Mr. Rodolfo C.Allayban, University Archivist.His two assistants, Ms. LilibethCastillo and Ms. Lina Trinidad,both with Computer Sciencebackgrounds, help him with theday to day activities of the office.The most requested andresearched items, Ms. Castilloreports, are the studentpublications The Guidon andHeights of the College, and theyearbooks from academic units.

The Archives informationstorage and retrieval system,according to Mr. Allayban, wasdone manually in the beginning.With computerization, updatingof things has become quicker andmuch more efficient. Adocument storage and retrievalsystem is the next step in the rightdirection, which, if properlyequipped with computer andscanner, could lead to a documentimaging system as well.Fortunately, the controlled air-conditioning during regular officehours only, and even the well-planned location or lay-out of theArchives have been foundcontributing factors in preservingstored documents and other non-

textual materials. When queriedfurther about how the Ateneo’sArchives compares with others,Mr. Allayban admires the physicalspace of other universities whichis considerably bigger and better,such as those of the Universityof the Philippines and De la SalleUniversity. But he points out thatsubstantially in terms of contentsand organization, the Ateneo mayhave the edge, stressing someimportance of the Board ofTrustees’ reorganization plan forcentral university administrationway back in 1974, effectingArchives independence as aservice unit, directly under thePresident. This is in fact similarto the initial set-up with Father

H. de la Costa, SJ as Keeper ofthe Archives.

Mr. Allayban works withenthusiasm and a quietpersistence that gets things done.He obviously enjoys his workwhich keeps him in touch withthe University community in thecourse of collecting materialsfrom them. As a member of theAteneo Heroes Committee, he isable to maintain a goodrelationship with alumni who area source of interesting materialsfor the Archives. He adds thatthere is a feeling of satisfactionwhen researchers show theirappreciation, and sometimes theyeven donate a copy of theircompleted work—without hisasking. For the future, the hopeis that space extension and

Keeper of historykeeper of identity

The University Archives

additional support staff beallotted for the Archives, in timefor the University’sSesquicentennial in 2009. In thepipeline too are plans, amongwhich is to open a new separatearea of what he termed“Jesuitica”, which could have asa nucleus some personal papersof outstanding Jesuits, andphotos and artifacts, like thestatue of St. Ignatius, PatronSaint of the Ateneo.

Work in the Archives is apparentlya labor of love and it seems thereis never a dull moment workingthere. Mr. Allayban continues tohave many interesting tales andtrivia marking his long and fruitfulcareer in the field—but that’sanother story for another time.eeglolarga

photos by Bj A. Patiño

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Rodolfo C. Allayban


&Ateneo Art Gallery exhibitsFlora: Beauty, Desire, and Death(October 11, 2006 to March 25,2007) and Luz in Ateneo(November 21, 2006 to January21, 2007), curated by Fr. ReneJavellana, SJ and Joel Alexanderde Leon, respectively.

The Flora exhibit is acommemoration of thetercentenery of Bro. GeorgJosef Kamel, SJ, a pharmacistand a naturalist, and Luz inAteneo is presented incelebration of the 80th birthdayof National Artist for Visual ArtsArturo Luz.

As a commemoration, Florabecomes both an intimation ofdeath and a celebration of life ascan be seen from the variouspaintings and images of leavesand f lowers like Fr. ManuelBlanco’s Flora de Filipinas, E.L.Cordova’s Jasminum sambae(Sampaguita) or Eugeniajambolana (Duhat) and thelaserprint facsimile of imagessuch as the Banaba and Chicoplants in Bro. Georg JosefKamel, SJ’s catalogue ofPhilippine plants (Herbariumaliarungue stirpium in insulaLuzone Phippiniarum primanoscentium).

The exhibit also showcasesPrudencio Lamarroza’s MotherNature Series, Cesar Legaspi’sDark Forest, Angelito Antonio’sMagbubulaklak, and YasminAlmonte-Lantz’s Ripe, amongmany others.

The writer Jeanette Winterson saysthat all art objects are objectionsto death, to meaningless deaths, tothe daily death we succumb to aswork becomes oppressive andtedious. In this exhibit, we see how

flora LUZin Ateneo Art Gallery

indeed art objects to these variousdeaths. As nature reveals thetemporality and frailty of ourexistence, so art becomes ourinnermost objection and ultimatelyour transformation as well.

It is this modernist principle ofself-transformation taken byNational Artist Arturo Luz as hissubjects like the city, theprocession, the sidewalk children,and the carnival reveal the dark,gothic character of modern

urban living. But far from beingpessimistic, Luz portrays themodern man as the flaneur, who,amidst the assault ofphantasmagoria provided by thecity, remains critical, transformingthe city experience.

For the critic Walter Benjamin,the flaneur’s gaze at the cityappears now as a landscape, nowas a room, and now as his verysoul. Likewise, we are alsochallenged to look at our lives the

way a flaneur does, in touch withour darkest and grimmest realitiesand always on the lookout forways be which we can liberateourselves. Liberation remains theonly vocation open to us.

In these exhibits, we take a lookagain how art testifies to ourtransformation and to what theGerman poet Rainer Maria Rilkebelieves is our goal, “for there isno place here that does not see you,you must change your life!” gdevilles

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The defiance of young peopleagainst social convention lies atthe spine of Middle Finger pô,Tanghalang Ateneo’s secondoffering of its 28th RepertorySeason. The play, originallywritten as Middle Finger by theprominent Filipino-Americanplaywright and a recipient of theMacArthur Foundation “GeniusGrant” Han Ong, has beentranslated into Filipino, withOng’s approval, by RonanCapinding.

This brilliant adaptation of FrankWedekind’s modern classic SpringAwakening centers on four highschool students who seek theiridentities in a world dominated byadults. The friendship of the boysgets threatened when one ofthem, Lunga, commits suicideafter he gets unjustly expelledfrom school. The boys arestunned by the sudden death andstart to drift apart. In remorse,another friend, Jakob, tries to be

a model student but lacking adultencouragement, fails in the effort.His frustration leads to anger andin partnership with Lunga, whoreturns as a ghost, Jakob vows totake vengeance on what heperceives as an uncaring adultworld. The play is a must-see forstudents, parents, teachers, andcounselors.

Ronan Capinding, the translator,also directs the play, his latest

work after last season’s criticallyacclaimed production of AngNilalang ni Victor Frankenstein.Jesus Joseph Ignacio designs theset and Jean Pierre Reniva devisesthe costumes under thesupervision of design consultantGino Gonzales. Lambert de Jesusdoes the lighting design whileReamur David handles work onthe graphics and multimedia.Tvelasco

Tanghalang Ateneo’s “Middle Finger pô”tackles youth issue

Dan Chua as Yachin, Angelo Cartagena as Michael, JJ Ignacio as Jakob, Kenn Cayundaas Luga and BJ Crisostomo as Wallace

TraditionsUniversityDecember 8Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionCelebrant: Bishop Honesto Ongtiocophotos by Joanna Ruiz

Christian spirituality with theworld of work.

The gift of missionAnother legacy of the first Jesuitsto us is the gift of mission, asembodied by St. Francis Xavier.According to UniversityPresident Bienvenido F. Nebres,SJ, when Ignatius sent Francis toevangelize in Asia, he readilyaccepted the task saying “Pues, sus!Heme aqui!,” or “Splendid! I’myour man!” Francis gamely wentto India with no questions asked,no knowledge of its culture andlanguage, and with only one pieceof clothing he mended beforeboarding the ship. This showedhis passion and readiness to sayyes to God’s mission for him.The ISEW participants relatedthis story to everyday experiencesat the workplace. Through theStations of St. Francis Xavier, thecommunity retraced themissionary voyage of St. Francisfrom Rome to India to Japan andfinally to Sancian in China, wherehe died at the age of 46. Sayingyes to God’s mission for us,letting go of earthly things thathinder us from fulfilling ourmission, finding new ways doingour work and new perspectivesfrom which to view it, having thestrength to soldier on despitedifficulties, dreaming of greaterthings in accordance to God’swill, and loving others are traitswhich St. Francis passes on to us.Ultimately, we do our work notmerely for the salary, forsustenance and, for recognition,but for the glory of God who isthe real big boss of our lives. This is why, according to Fr.Nebres, most alumni fondlyremember the Ateneo staff longafter they’ve graduated andpursued their careers. With theJesuit spirit still very much alivetoday, Ateneans—students,Jesuits and lay partners alike—share in the mission of formingfuture leaders through excellencein education. mcorrea, www.ateneo.edu

The otherAteneans(and they’re not in classrooms)

By Atenean, most peopleusually mean bright studentsstylishly dressed and armed withthe latest tech gadgets.

On Nov. 25, 2006 at the GradeSchool Auditorium, though, theAteneo community shifted itsgaze to the other Ateneans—those who rush to Katipunanearly in the morning not forupcoming tests or org activitiesbut for work, be it in an office oron campus grounds asmaintenance staff. That morning,the university’s non-teaching stafftrooped to the auditorium toattend the whole-day activity thatwill bring them back to their rootsas Ateneans: the IgnatianSpirituality in EducationWorkshop 3.

With the theme “Sumama,Sumiklab, Sumulong” the educationworkshop sought to find thespirit of its three forefathers, St.Ignatius Loyola, St. FrancisXavier and Bl. Peter Faber, andhow they continue to be presenttoday through the Jesuits and thelay partners that comprise theAteneo community.

The gift of friendship andcaring Although Bl. Peter Faber, or “thesilent companion,” is the leastknown among the threecompanions, he actually holds thekey to building a real community.According to Fr. Daniel PatrickL. Huang, SJ, provincial of thePhilippine province of theSociety of Jesus, a community isa group of persons who share thesame mission and values. This isin contrast with a crowd, whichis defined as a group of peoplebound merely by time and spaceand nothing more.

Bl. Peter Faber’s graces ofrespect, hospitality, andconversation, which are spiritualgifts from God, also serve as hislegacy to the current crop ofAteneo community members.The three graces are necessary fora community to carry out in orderto work harmoniously.Admittedly, a community is notperfect since it is composed ofpeople who are also imperfect,but with the conscious carryingout of Peter’s three legacies to us,community members are able tolessen friction and to integrate

“ “A community is a groupof persons who share thesame mission and values.This is in contrast with a

crowd, which is defined asa group of people boundmerely by time and space

and nothing more.

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The Philippine Council ofMathematics Teacher Educators(MATHTED), Inc., aprofessional organization ofmathematics educators, recentlyheld a conference dubbed “ASpecial Conference inCelebration of the 10th FoundingYear of MATHTED”, fromOctober 23 to 25, 2006 at theAteneo de with the theme, Shiftsand Transitions Towards Excellence inPhilippine Mathematics Education. Atthe conference, MATHTEDpaid special tribute to fouroutstanding mathematicseducators who have madesignificant contributions to thedevelopment of mathematicseducation activities in thePhilippines: Prof. Josefina C.Fonacier, Dr. Milagros D. Ibe, Fr.Bienvenido F. Nebres, all part ofthe “magic 20” who foundedMATHTED in 1996, and Sis.Iluminada C. Coronel of theMathematics TeachersAssociation of the Philippines(MTAP). (See separate news itembelow.)

The conference programconsisted of six plenary lectures,six special lectures, tenworkshops, and 31 parallelresearch paper presentations.Close to 160 mathematicseducators and classroom teachersrepresenting institutions from thedifferent regions of thePhilippines, and visitors fromAustralia, Japan, Malaysia, NewZealand, Singapore and theU.S.A. came to participate in thetwo-and-a-half-day academic

activity. Longtime MATHTEDfriends Prof. Jin Akiyama ofTokai University, Japan and Prof.Lee Peng Yee of the NationalInstitute of Education (NIE) inSingapore gave plenary lectures.The other four plenary lectureswere given by the four honorees.The six special lecturers were Dr.Simon Chua of the MathematicsTrainers Guild, Philippines,Associate Prof. Peter Howard ofAustralian Catholic University,Prof. Kathryn Irwin of theUniversity of Auckland,Associate Prof. Berinderjeet Kaurof NIE, Dr. Ferdinand Rivera ofSan Jose State University, andAteneo’s very own Dr. Mari-JoRuiz.

The workshops were a specialfeature with half of themshowcasing significantcollaboration between universityprofessors and mathematicsclassroom teachers and betweencultures. Mr. Rhett Latonio ofSotero B. Cabahug FORUMLiteracy in Cebu and A/P PeterHoward facilitated a workshopon investigating fractions,probability, and equality. Mrs.

Esther Omongos of MisamisOccidental HS and Prof. KathrynIrwin worked with participantson developing materials to teachspace figures. Mr. JeremiasBitanga and A/P BerinderjeetKaur conducted a few classroomactivities to enhance reasoning inmathematics. Ms. LeonidesBulalayao of Nueva Ecija HS andAteneo’s Dr. Ma. LouiseAntonette de las Peñas togetherran a workshop on usingtechnology to enhance thelearning of mathematics. Ms.Adelaida Pablo of Ateneo GradeSchool and Dr. FlordelizaFrancisco of the AteneoMathematics Departmenttogether showed the importanceof using manipulative materialsto make the learning ofmathematics in the middle schoolmore concrete. The otherworkshop facilitators were Dr.Ferdinand Rivera, Dr. CorneliaSoto of Ateneo’s EducationDepartment, Dr. EvangelineBautista, Mr. Winfer Tabares, andMr. Rey Barcelon of the AteneoMathematics Department, Ms.Ma. Theresa Tulao also of theAteneo MathematicsDepartment, and Mr. SergioOryen of Benguet StateUniversity.

The research papers representeda variety of important studies inmathematics education on topicsthat included motivation, mathanxiety, mathematical commu-

At the Special Conference inCelebration of MATHTED’s10th Founding Year held at theAteneo de Manila Universityfrom October 23-25, 2006, fourspecial individuals were honoredfor their work in mathematicseducation, mathematics teachereducation and development, andmathematics education research.Among these four were Ateneo’svery own President, Fr.Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J. and Sis.Iluminada C. Coronel, retiredlongtime faculty of theDepartment of Mathematics.The other honorees were Prof.Josefina C. Fonacier, past directorof University of the PhililippinesNational Institute ofMathematics EducationDevelopment (NISMED) andDr. Milagros Ibe, ProfessorEmeritus of the U.P. College of

Education and current Dean of theGraduate School of MiriamCollege. All four were honored fortheir outstanding work inmathematics education as well asfor their unique and profoundcontributions and impact in variousareas in Philippine mathematicseducation. Prof. Fonacier, forexample, is best known for herwork in the Philippine MathematicsOlympiad, Sis. Coronel for hermathematics caravan and theannual Math Challenge for gradeschool and high school, Dr. Ibe forher work as research mentor ofPhD students and her studies onthe licensure exam results, and Fr.Nebres for his work with thePhilippine Department ofEducation (DepEd) and hisdynamic role in internationalizingmathematics education in East andSoutheast Asian countries.

The Conference Dinner andSpecial Tribute Night programhighlighted the works of each ofthe honorees through a specialvideo prepared by MATHTEDand testimonials given by theircolleagues. Dr. Jose MariaBalmaceda of the U.P.Mathematics Departmententertained the audience with hisstories about Prof. Fonacier andpraised her for the dedicatedwork she has put into thePhilippine MathematicsOlympiad and the MathematicalSociety of the Philippines. Mr.Aniceto Sobrepeña ofMetrobank Foundation Inc.through his representative Mr.Nicanor Torres, Jr., sent hiswarmest congratulations andpraise for Sis. Coronel’spersistence in maintaining theMath Challenge as a credibleannual activity for schoolchildren.Dr. Ester Ogena of the ScienceEducation Institute provided atouching testimonial of Dr. Ibe’s

Ateneo hosts MATHTED’s10th anniversary special conference

nication, constructivist-basedapproach, reflective problemsolving, heuristics in problemsolving, problem posing abilities,and algebra learning readiness.Paper presenters also came fromvarious institutions in the countryfrom as far as Cotabato to NagaCity. About half came fromuniversities and schools in MetroManila. Dr. Alva Aberin, Ms.Debbie Bautista, and Dr.Catherine Vistro-Yu of theAteneo MathematicsDepartment and Ms. StephanieMutuc and Ms. Josephine Saclutiof the Ateneo High School wereamong the paper presenters.

As a fitting end to this SpecialAnniversary Celebration,MATHTED launched theworking drafts of the PhilippineMathematics Framework for BasicEducation and the MathematicsFramework for Teacher Education onthe last day of the conference.The documents were the resultsof a series of discussions andwriteshops participated in byvolunteer members ofMATHTED and invitedcolleagues from majorinstitutions, schools, professionalgroups, and the DepEd. Theseworking drafts were published bySEI and MATHTED anddistributed amongrepresentatives of participatinginstitutions for future discussionsand consultative meetings.

Participants register at the start of the MATHTED Special Conference

Prof. Lee Peng Yee of the National Institute of Education, Singapore, in his specialplenary lecture

Dr. Milagros Ibe, one of the honorees, delivers her lecture

Catherine Vistro-Yu, EdD, Department of Mathematics

unwavering loyalty to her workand commended her for all thatshe has done in mathematicseducation. Prof. Lee Peng Yeefondly recalled how he and Fr.Nebres became friends,eventually becomingcollaborators in developingmathematics education in Eastand Southeast Asia.

MATHTED awarded each of thefour honorees a special plaqueand a cash gift. As a treat to theparticipants of the SpecialConference, each of the four

honorees gave a lecture on theircurrent favorite topic. Dr. Ibetalked about the critical situationof low passing rates amongmathematics teachers in thelicensure exam. Fr. Nebres spokeabout improving mathematicsteaching in the Philippines byproviding lesson guides toteachers on a massive scale. Prof.Fonacier played the latest numbercraze, Sudoku, with theconference participants. Sis.Coronel illustrated howcooperative learning can be usedin a problem solving class.

Dr. Catherine Vistro-Yu, MATHTED President, devliers her welcome address at theConference Dinner and Special Tribute Night

The Power of4Honoring four outstanding mathematics educators

Catherine Vistro-Yu, EdDDepartment of Mathematics

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Last September 3 to 9, 2006,seventeen young delegates fromall over Asia—Cambodia, China,Japan, India, Indonesia, Laos,Malaysia, Myanmar, thePhilippines, Thailand, andVietnam—participated in aretreat workshop dubbed“Building a Better Asia: FutureLeaders’ Dialogue” in thepicturesque campus of PekingUniversity, Beijing, China. It was,in Mr. Yohei Sasakawa’s words, “ahistoric event.” The retreatbrought together, for the firsttime, beneficiaries and associatesof The Nippon Foundation, TheTokyo Foundation (whichmanages the SYLFF program),and The Sasakawa PeaceFoundation. The retreat provided a venue forthe participants to come together,get to know and network witheach other—with an emphasis onbridging different programs andprojects. It also served as a forumfor dialogue on some seriousissues confronting Asia. Thegroup was given the uniqueopportunity to discuss what weenvision Asia to be, and how weintend to work towards this visionof a better Asia. Why Asia? Perhaps the Europeanmodel has propelled Asians toconsider the implications ofcloser cooperation in the region.Perhaps the magnitude andproportion of Asia’s suddengrowth make it impossible for theworld to ignore. Asia is thebiggest continent and of late,regional ties are still relativelyweak. At the same time, the hugepotential of Asia cannot bedenied—better Asia inevitablycontributes to a better world. The intensive retreat workshopfeatured an impressive line-up ofdistinguished lecturers, expertsand key figures in their respectivefields, who shared their personalexperiences and concerns onspecific issues affecting the Asianregion. We felt very privileged

that they took the time to speakto a small group of young peopleand express their faith in ourcapacity to bring about changesin Asia. We learned so much from theselectures and from each other. Butperhaps one of the mostimportant things that we learnedis that we don’t know that much abouteach other! It is embarrassing tonote that Asians know moreabout the United States orEurope than about each other.The lack of awareness andunderstanding of ourneighboring countries whichundermines our ability tocooperate regionally surfaced inalmost all the lectures. In his keynote address, JiaQingguo of the School ofInternational Studies in PekingUniversity noted how East Asianregional cooperation seems to bedeterred by the great diversity inthe region, the deep historicalanimosity, distrust and leadershiprivalry between the superpowers(Japan and China), and thedubious role of the US. However,with globalization and growinginterdependence, East Asiancountries have no choice but toreach out to each other and worktowards cooperation. Harsha Kumar Navaratne of theSewalanka Foundation shared thestory of Sri Lanka to illustratewhat civil society means—a spacefor people to participate indecision-making and feelempowered to effect changes intheir communities. Only whenpeople feel that they are activemembers of civil society—able to

organize and mobilize—willthere be sustainable resolutionsto the peace issues in Sri Lankaand in other Asian countriesfacing similar challenges. Harshastressed the value of having localpeople share their traditionalknowledge. Renowned Thai journalist KaviChongkittavorn called ourattention to the important andinfluential role of media in thepolitical landscape. He providedan overview of the state of mediain the Southeast Asian region,and zeroed in on recent trends inThai media. Media has been usedand abused to control publicopinion, perpetuate power, andpromote personal agenda. Kavirecommended that Asianjournalists must network andpromote regional news services,training centers and programs. It is impossible to talk ofinformation exchange withoutdiscussing the use of technologyand innovation. Wong Poh Kamof the Entrepreneurship Center inthe National University ofSingapore suggested thatdeveloping countries must notwaste their resources in competingwith countries that are far aheadin the technology industry. Insteadthey must aspire towardsdeveloping and applyingtechnology that would benefit theunique situation in their country(e.g. instead of developing anothermodel of laptop, developingglobal positioning system or GPStechnology for forest and marineresource management would bemore useful for the Philippines).He also pointed out that progressin technology and innovation is

the result of information sharingand networking. Finally, Thailand’s formerMinister of Foreign Affairs andcandidate for UN SecretaryGeneral, Surin Pitsuwan,challenged the concept of statesovereignty and the principle ofnon-interference in othercountries’ affairs in spite of“conscience-shocking” problemsand “problems withoutpassports”. Surin urged us toreevaluate the destructivedevelopment growth modeladvocated by the marketeconomy and take inspirationfrom Asia’s glorious andenlightened past – founded onreligion, traditions, andhumanitarian values.

The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young LeadersFellowship Fund (SYLFF) Program

Working towards a Better Asia Sherilyn SiyMA Applied Social PsychologySYLFF Fellow

After a competitive andrigorous selection process, twopostgraduate students bestedhundreds of other hopefuls towin coveted slots in theNovartis InternationalBiotechnology LeadershipCamp held in Singapore fromOctober 6 to 8, 2006. FrancesC. Vega, MS Chemistry, Ateneode Manila University, andDennis Bela-Ong, PhDMolecular Biology andBiotechnology, University ofthe Philippines-Los Baños,joined 33 other top post-graduate students from 11countries to meet with some ofthe world’s leadingbiotechnology experts from theindustry, academia, andgovernment sector.

The Novartis InternationalBiocamp is a uniqueopportunity for participants tolearn about global trends anddevelopments in thebiotechnology field throughpresentations, interactivebreakout sessions and fieldtrips, build networks, learnvaluable skills to help themsucceed in the industry, as wellas visit some of Singapore’sleading biomedical/health-carefacilities. It is also a uniqueopportunity for participants tohone their leadership skills, aswell as explore and identifypersonal career goals inbiotechnology industry.

For more information, visitwww.novartisbiocamp.com.

Postgrads represent RP inNovartis biotech camp

Frances “Chinggay” Vega (first row, second from right) poses with Novartis Biocampteammates

Frances C. Vega, MS Chemistry

Small group discussions allowedus to reflect on all these issues andto consider ways we can respondas a group. On the last day of ourretreat workshop, we drafted ajoint statement (communiqué) toguide our collective actions.

The retreat workshop was trulyan enriching and inspiringexperience for all of us. We weregiven the means to concretelywork towards our dream of abetter Asia. Our website“Building a Better Asia” (BABA)is targeted for launch before theend of 2006. We would like toinvite everyone to participate inthis online forum and share in thespirit of our fellowship to builda better Asia and ultimately, abetter world.

“ “

But perhaps one of the most impor-tant things that we learned is that wedon’t know that much about each other! Itis embarrassing to note that Asiansknow more about the United Statesor Europe than about each other.

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In a talk given to Loyola Schoolsfaculty members in November,Fr. Daniel Patrick J. Huang,Provincial Superior of the Societyof Jesus in the Philippines, sharedhis thoughts on the place of theAteneo de Manila Universitywithin the Jesuit Mission today.

Although “Jesuit” is oftenidentified with “Ateneo deManila,” he explained that theUniversity is part of a widernetwork of ministries:educational apostolate, formationcluster, spirituality cluster, socialapostolate, pastoral cluster,communications, and foreignmissions.

The educational mission includesfive universities (Ateneo de Davao,Ateneo de Manila, Ateneo deNaga, Ateneo de Zamboanga, andXavier University), three schools(Xavier School, Sacred HeartSchool of Cebu, and Ateneo deIloilo), the Loyola College ofCulion, parochial schools inBukidnon, ERDA Tech, and theManila Observatory.

Under the formation cluster arePCP 2 (renewal of priests), Jesuitformation (Sacred Heart Novitiateand Loyola House of Studies), theformation of diocesan clergy (SanJose Seminary and St. JohnVianney Theological Seminary),and the formation of pastoralministers (Loyola School ofTheology or LST).

The spirituality cluster promotesthe Jesuit tradition of the“Ministry of Consolation” andthe Apostleship of Prayermovement, and includesspirituality institutes (EmmausCenter for psycho-spiritualformation and Center forIgnatian Spirituality) and RetreatHouses (SHN, Angono, Mirador,Cebu, Malaybalay).

The social apostolate focuses onsocial change through formation,organizing, reflection, advocacythrough the Society of JesusSocial Apostolate (SJSA)network, which includes theProvince Institutes: Institute of

Social Order (ISO), Institute onChurch and Social Issues (ICSI),Environmental Science for SocialChange (ESSC), UGAT, and thePhilippine Jesuit Prison Service.

The thrust of the pastoral clusterto build up Christiancommunities of faith and serviceis lived in parishes, chaplaincies,and the Center for FamilyMinistries. There are four lumad

parishes in Bukidnon, a parishamong former Hansenites andtheir descendants in Culion, aparish in Barangka, Marikina, andthree Chinese Filipino parishes(Mary the Queen, Sacred Heart,Santa Maria). Chaplainciesinclude the Philippine GeneralHospital/UP Manila, thePhilippine Jesuit Prison Service,and UP Diliman.

In today’s society, evangelizationand social transformation can beachieved through socialcommunications. The JesuitCommunications include theJesuit Music Ministry, mainstreammedia (TV movies, radio shows,TV spots), and new ventures (textmessaging). This cluster alsoincludes the training of Churchpersonnel in media ministry andinfluencing the Catholic mediacluster.

Finally, there are foreign missionsin Cambodia, East Timor,Myanmar, and Taiwan/ China, aswell as a re-orientation of LSTto become Asian theologate.

This range of Jesuit ministriesreflects the Jesuit mission today,as articulated by General

Congregation 34: the service offaith that does justice, thatevangelizes culture, and thatdialogues with other religioustraditions. According to Fr.Huang, this conception ofmission rejects themarginalization of faith that is theagenda or presupposition ofsome influential versions ofmodernity. This, he said, issignificant for understanding

what makes a University Catholicand Jesuit.

The understanding of a Catholicuniversity today is that it is aninstitution participating in theChurch’s mission of theredemption of history, and itdoes so as a university that formsyoung people for life, preparesthem for professions, engages inthe production of knowledge,and is a social and cultural forcein a community. For a Catholicuniversity, it means formingyoung people in Christianmaturity, ordering the professionstowards service andtranscendence, engaging in deepreflection on the great questionsof a culture in the light ofCatholic ethical concerns and itstradition of wisdom, and beingan institutional witness andadvocate of the Gospel in society.

In the Ateneo’s context today, wesee that all professions can beoriented towards the values ofthe Gospel for the redemption ofhistory and for the building ofthe nation. The Jesuit educationalideal of being men and womenfor others can be now be seen inthe context of being a

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture, VolumeIX, Numbers 2 and 3, 2005The Black and White World of Virgilio OliverMontecastroEdited by Luis S. David, S.J.

From the editor’s introduction:“Photography, like any otherartistic or creative endeavor, iscomposition—of the kindGertrude Stein had in mindwhen she said: ‘Thecomposition is the thing seenby every one living in the livingthat they are doing, they are thecomposing of the compositionthat at the time they are livingis the composition of the timein which they are living.’ Thetorturous tautology imbeddedin Ms. Stein’s wordnotwithstanding, they make perfect sense applied to the finelygrained, sharply textured, richly modulated black and whitephotographs of Vir Oliver Montecastro collected in this volume,which convey an impression of eyewitness actuality andtransparent objectivity in regard to where he was, what he wasdoing, who with, what he was feeling, what he understood.

On page dividers set apart from the images, produced humanlyand sympathetically, without preconception, emotionalcoloration, or theatricalism—of poor rural fishermen, MindanaoMuslims, Metropolitan Manila scavengers, in their everydaycircumstances and social entrapments of their lives—suchidentification details as subject, location, date are provided, evenas the images themselves appear unaccompanied by either captionor commentary, so as to enable them, from the undefined spacewithin a darkroom, to emerge as signposts providing directionsinto the languages, signs, texts, of our times.”

I’ve Been Dating…Now What?A Guide for College Students and YoungProfessionalsBy Maribel Sison Dionisio, MA, and Mike H. Asis, PhD

From the authors’ preface:“The idea for this modest bookarose from the vital need we sayto help young people…preparemore adequately for the lifetimecommitment of marriage. Itaims to help (them) face the realissues, make the right choices,and lay the foundation for ahappy and successful marriagelife. This book is for…collegestudents and singleprofessionals—whether in a

relationship at the moment or not. It provides advancedinformation about relationships, posing questions to help youand your (future) partner reflect on various areas of your livesand personalities that will influence the kind of marriage youwill both have. Use it as your roadmap toward a loving, mature,and mutually fulfilling married life ahead. When it is your futurehappiness and fulfillment that is at stake, it’s never too early toprepare.”

booksProfessionalsOthersfor

“professional for others”. Someof the areas that need to beaddressed are student formation,faculty formation, orientation ofthe disciplines, and how researchcan more effectively contribute tothe hard thinking that is neededfor social transformation.

In conclusion, Fr. Huang invitedthe faculty to reflect and dialogueon the Ateneo’s role. He invitedthem to contextualize the Ateneowithin the larger Jesuit frameworkof works and mission; to

“problematize” ADMU’s“Catholic and Jesuit identity” inview of fewer Jesuits, more andmore varied students and faculty,and emerging cultural trends; andto highlight the dream that Ateneobe a more effective participant inthe redemption of history. Likethe First Companions—Ignatius,Faber and Xavier—manyAteneans’ minds, hearts, passions,and the orientation of theirfreedom continue to betransformed during their years atthe Ateneo. maccProvincial

speaks on being

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The young college men andwomen of Team Ateneo whoparticipated in the games heldduring the first semester of the69th UAAP Season were given aspecial night of last October 20,2006 at the Blue Eagle Gym.Feted during Animo Ateneo nightwere the Men’s and Women’sSwimming Team, Judo Team, andthe Men’s and Women’sBasketball Teams.

On hand to open the programand welcome guests was VicePresident for Loyola Schools, Dr.

Ma. Assunta C. Cuyegkeng. Co-hosts alumnus and Mhel Garridoand college student Lia Cruz.Each team was presented to thecrowd by Ateneo administratorssuch as Dr. Alfredo Bengzon,Vice President for ProfessionalSchools and Romeo Dalandan Jr,Director for Alumni Relations.Team spoke to their admirers,supporters, and friends, and givethanks to all of them. As part ofthe evening’s program, the BlueBabble Batallion also gave apresentation of their prowess onthe cheering field.

The Blue Eagle Gym was a-buzzwith activity that Friday night asexcited fans both from within andoutside of Ateneo converged tocelebrate the accomplishments ofthe season with the Ateneocollege players. The festivitiessparked brisk sales of Ateneosouvenir items with jerseys offavorite Blue Eagles such as JCIntal and Chris Tiu coming outas top sellers. Free refreshmentsfor the athletes and the 2006Jubilarian Classes were pouredout as well as free drink treats toAteneo staff and the first 400students to come to the event.Quite noticeable too were theproliferation of young femalehigh school student fans as wellas children of Ateneo alumniwearing Ateneo T-shirts, capsand jerseys. With alumni andtheir family membersaround, it was heartwarmingto see a young boy, withhis doting Lola in tow,chasing after basketballplayer Zion Laterre for anautograph and a photoopportunity as he arrivedwith a group of Blue Eagles.

The Physical EducationProgram’s free Learn-to-SwimProgram for non-teaching staffwas launched in the first semester,schoolyear 2006-2007. Thisoffering not only gives Ateneoemployees an opportunity tolearn to swim, or perfect theirtechnique, but also encouragesthem to try out the new LoyolaSchools swimming pool locatedat the back of the College

Covered Courts. Alex Torres,Director of the LS PhysicalEducation Program, explains thatthe swimming program covers atotal of five sessions held onSaturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 in theafternoon. The program has nowbeen expanded to include non-teaching staff from the differentoffices of the Universitycommunity. There are plans fortwo more modules to be offered

consecutively to theadministrative offices and theLoyola Schools faculty members,and then to maintenancepersonnel. Those who completethe basic course in swimming, headded, will be awarded an ATMcard-sized completion card.

Swimming instructors on hand tolend their expertise to theswimming classes are: ArturoFlores Asajar (whom everyonecalls Coach Mac), junior full-timefaculty members Paul de los Reyesand Rodel Sauza, and junior part-time faculty member GilbertCheng. On one Saturdayafternoon, about 14 people fromthe University community(Loyola Schools, Pathways,ACED, and ACELT) came to theswim lessons and started withwarm-ups. Although a bit shyabout getting their photographstaken in swim suits, all were inagreement that the lessons werefun and promoted camaraderieamong the group. “Maingay, OK,

masaya,” is how Vicky Calderonof ACELT, describes thesessions. She is quick to praisetheir swimming teachers for theirexcellent coaching which wasclear and easy to follow,“madaling sundin.” Someparticipants are new atswimming, but the rest seem tobe taking the program as arefresher course as well as amuch-needed relaxing breakfrom the office grind. Nora delaCruz of the InterdisciplinaryStudies Department notes thatthe swimming helps relieve herasthma and hypertension. LS Registrar Joaquin Julian “JJ”

Agtarap, on the other hand, seemsto have gained most from theexperience since he apparentlystarted swim lessons with verylimited know-how and has joinedtwo consecutive programs just tohone his swimming ability further.He says he enjoys the experienceand is very grateful for theencouragement of Alex Torres tocome for the lessons. The swimprogram completes his work outsat the Moro gym—”pantanggalng stress,” he says.

It’s time to take a dip in the newLS swimming pool. Its water isan enticing blue (enhanced by abit of copper sulfate). It’s keptefficiently clean by a new and bigfilter system with two kilos ofchlorine thrown in daily. Freeswimming lessons, anyone?eeglolarga

It’s never too lateto learn

to swim!

AnimoAteneoNight

The tribute was capped withautograph signing by the athleteswhich drew enthusiastic fans tohurriedly queue up for autographswith their favorite players. As theautograph (and impromptuphoto) sessions reached a feveredpitch, cool music from studentrock bands Uneven and others

livened up the affair’s close.Players gamely stood up to takephotographs of themselves withtheir adoring fans, accentuatingthe closeness, camaraderie andgood humor evoked by thegathering. It was truly a night ofwarm remembrances. eeglolarga


photos by Aly L. Yap

Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion

Ateneo Lady Tankers Ateneo Blue Tankers

Ateneo Blue Jodokas

Ateneo Lady Eagles

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Hosts: Mel Garrido and Lia Cruz

loyolaschoolsbulletin16 Volume II, Number 6 & 7. November & December 2006

we build community we nurture hope

Mission StatementFormer Chicago Bull guard andcurrent General Manager John Paxsononce said that the first time you makeit to the championship; you’re justthrilled to be there. The next timearound; you’re on a mission. For thethird straight time; you’re out to makehistory.

So where does that leave this year’sBlue Booters? What ghosts are theychasing on their way to a fourthstraight championship?

The 2006-07 edition of the AteneoMen’s Football team is heading intothe start of the football season withguarded optimism. In years past, theteam was loaded all the way to the lastplayer on the bench as well as to thereserves; there was always someone toplug in the holes in the line-up. AsAssistant Coach Aris Bocalan said, “Attimes, the player coming off the benchfor the starter was just as good if notbetter. That’s how deep the team was.”

This year, even without perennialthreat DLSU, the Blue Booters will behard pressed to defend the crown.There are only seven holdovers fromthe three-peat team: the co-captainsPat Ozaeta and Alvin Perez, GinoTongson, Jolo Peralta, Gerard Cancio,Fred Ozaeta, and Sam Wilson. Goneare Roger Lastimado, last year’sscoring machine, captain MickeyIngles whose toughness and leadershipserved the team well throughout theirstruggles on and off the pitch, mid-fielder JP Merida whose steadfastnessin the middle was crucial to Ateneo’sgame plan, wingman Zaldy Marañonwhose blazing speed and ability tooutrace taller defensive backs set upmany a goal, and goalkeeper JerwinBelina, who in this writer’s humbleopinion should have been named co-MVP along with Ozaeta last year.Belina walked out of the shadows ofkeeper James Dalang and battled backfrom nearly being cut from the line-up at the start of the season to be therock that allowed the defensive backsto freelance on offense. He stoppedevery shot on goal including a penaltyshot off a bad call. His holdingopponents’ goal-less for the better partof the season was every bit asfascinating a sub-plot as the drive forthree straight. This is of course, noknock on Ozaeta’s importance to theteam considering he held last year’sGolden Boot awardee VaughnMelendrez scoreless in three matches,but Belina, without fanfare—just theway the coach likes it—set the tonefor the entire season.

Defend the Crown is still theimpassioned mantra that multi-titledcoach Ompong Merida recites to histeam. But football campaigns aren’twon on snazzy tag-lines or catchphrases. “It all boils down to hardwork,” emphasizes Merida. “The otherteams are rounding out intochampionship form—particularlyFEU. They may be more talented and

experienced at this point but what wewill strive to be is the mosthardworking team in the UAAP.”

Microcosm of a ProblemBy this time, the UAAP line-up willhave been finalized. This year, thereare many questions as to who will haveto pick up the slack from those whohave graduated.

“You have to understand that there area lot of new players,” offers AlvinPerez who along with Ozaeta hasplayed for the championship all theircollege lives. “Some have yet to adjustto collegiate competition while somehave to find the form they showed lastyear.”

The new players are Kurt Alvarez,Mico Noel (who played on the Ateneo

futsal team), James Arco, JJ Clemente,Gabriel Siojo, Derek Candelaria,Benedict Tady, and Aris Mantos, thisyear’s keeper. In spite of the rawnessof the team, they have performedreasonably well in a pair of off-seasontourneys in Ang Liga and the TerryRazon Copa.

During the recent semestral break, theteam spent a week in Thailand (theboon of a successful fund-raisingcampaign by the Ateneo FootballCenter which was capped by the liveviewing of the recent FIFA WorldCup) where the experience changedthe way the team looked at football.“In the space of one week, we sawnot only what was wrong with Ateneofootball, but the whole of Philippinefootball,” says the team’s former mid-fielder and now Assistant Coach ArisBocalan.

Right off the bat, the game is a wayof life. It’s in the papers, there’s aprofessional league, and there’s hypesurrounding the game. “I’ll rememberthe drums,” smiles Ozaeta. “Kahit hindi

puno yung stadium, there are alwayspeople banging on drums andcheering. People talk about it on TVand read about it in the papers. Kahitkami, after watching the games live,binabasa pa namin sa diyaryo. You soakin and become part of thatatmosphere.”

On the pitch, the Thais were elegant.The players would readily andinstinctively act against theopposition’s game plans. “No needpara sa coach sumigaw ng instructions,”

recalls Bocalan. “Naiintindihan nila agadkung anong kailangan gawin.” There wasan instinctive love of the game farbeyond the training. And that alone,perhaps, is the big difference. Love ofthe beautiful game. Players no matterwhat their position must recognizeopportunities, make the rightdecisions, and make quality passes ifnot taking the ball forward. The daysof simple crunching tackles bydefensive backs are long gone. Theymust know how to put the ball intoplay. This is what current OlympiqueLyon (and former Arsenal) ManagerGerard Houllier preaches: the gametoday is won on how quickly defensesare able to lead a counter-attack beforeopposing defenders get re-organized.The Thais have embraced thisphilosophy and for the Ateneans whogot their look upfront on the field orin the stands, the experience has notbeen lost on anyone.

“Marami naman mga bata na at an earlyage naglalaro ng football,” notes Bocalan.“You can see hindi lang sa AFC magandayung participation. But it’s not enough

yung naglalaro.” Bocalan believes thatknowing the intricacies of the sport—being a student of the game—is key.There are many talented players butit’s those who understand how thegame is played who excel.

The Blue Booters went to Thailand tobond with their teammates and tolearn from some of the best. Theycame home not simply amazed butconvinced that they have their workcut out for them.

Under SiegeThe road to the championshipdefinitely goes through Katipunan.For starters, the games will once morebe held in Ateneo. Second, every teamin the league is waiting to knock thecrown off Les Blues’ collective head.

The role of scorer has been inheritedby Gerard Cancio who got a massivedose of confidence when he broke outfor two goals against a tough USTteam in the second round last year. Hehas played well and has learned howto create opportunities for others. Onthe other hand, he will be a markedman. The return of Peralta after a backinjury, Gino Tongson coming off thebench and playing with a controlledfury, and rookie Kurt Alvarez shouldprovide help upfront.

The impregnable defense of last yeartook a hit with the graduation ofJerwin Belina and the departure ofJerome Reyes. But steady in thedefensive line and in perhaps their finalplaying years, are Pat Ozaeta and AlvinPerez who will once more make lifedifficult for opposing strikers. ArisMantos may be our rookie keeper buthe isn’t lacking in confidence.

The FEU Tamaraws of AdolfoAlicante are finally ripe enough to thecrown. This team is on its third yeartogether. Many of them are from the

Four ScoreA Look into the AteneoMen’s Football Team 2006-07

By Rick Olivaresphotos by Bj A. Patiño

Negros area where former BlueBooter Zaldy Marañon hails from.Their familiarity with one anothershould serve them in good stead. Lastyear, they played Ateneo plenty toughand that was with the full complementof Lastimado, Ingles, TristanTongson, and company. This yearthey’re still intact and raring to go.

The UST Growling Tigers are oneteam that no one can take lightly. Theirbiggest loss was Coach Nonoy Carpiowho is now with the National Team.New coach and former UST playerMarjo Allado knows that this team hasalways been long on talent but hasbeen short on their ability to bring itout. They need to find consistency intheir game. If Allado can fully moldthis team and turn them into killers,then they’ll be hard to beat.

The University of the PhilippinesMaroons likewise have a new coachin Vanni Tolentino. They will beparading quite a few new faces, buttheir biggest foe won’t simply be themore seasoned teams, but themselves.Chemistry is obviously the order ofthe day.

UE Coach Lloyd Lim’s team tooksome disheartening losses last yearowing to having a young line-up. Witha year of UAAP football under theirbelt, they figure to do better this timearound.

Prelude to the kick-offAll things considered, the team isexcited about the prospect ofdefending the crown once more. NoAteneo team—in any sport—has wonfour straight. This is where thecoaching staff preaches caution. Theimportant thing is not to get toocaught up in the enormity of the feat.One game at a time, reminds Bocalan.For the vets, they would love nothingmore than to be caretakers of a legacyof greatness while the newbies wouldwant nothing more than to show thatthey belong.

Gabriel Siojo, younger brother ofMiguel Siojo who was with the three-peat champs, personifies this doggeddetermination by the young turks.Gabs tried out the last couple of yearsonly to be cut and relegated to thetraining team. But this year, he will bemanning the midfield slot vacated byJP Merida and Coach Ompong can’twait to see the kid in action. He likeshis guts and drive to succeed. TheAteneo team in recent years hasachieved with no star players ornational team members. Other teamslike UST and FEU have paradedalmost the intact line-ups of variouseditions of our youth national teams.Each time, they’ve been beaten backby the no-name Ateneo Blue Booters.What they have accomplished isbecause of a dedicated collective. Andas the coaches like to say, when youwork hard, nothing is impossible.

Even something as daunting as fourchampionships straight.

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