The GUIDON Graduation Magazine 2020 by The GUIDON

EXECUTIVE EDITORS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Editor-in-Chief: Alithea C. Soriano (AB COM ‘20) Associate Editor: Margarita C. Gonzalez (BS PSY ‘20) Managing Editor: Jyra Zoe T. Ang (BS LM ‘20) Design Executive Editor: Jason T. Mariano (BS ITE ‘21)

Izza Joyce D. Zamoranos (BS MAC ‘20) Kirby G. Jalandoni (BS ME ‘20) Michael Thomas D. Perfecto (BS MGT ‘20) Paolo Rafael R. Yaptinchay (AB CHN SB ‘20) Reyneal-Joseph M. Vargas (AB DipIR ‘20) Ma. Katrina Fides E. Camacho (BS CTM ‘20)

SECTION EDITORS Milestones Editor: Margarita C. Gonzalez (BS PSY ‘20) Tributes Editor: Margarita C. Gonzalez (BS PSY ‘20) Leaders and Advocates Editor: Jasey C. Cruz (AB POS ‘20) Artists and Performers Editor: Annicka B. Koteh (BS ME ‘20) Geniuses Editor: Joaquin A. Santos (BS ME ‘20) Athletes Editor: Apa D. Aquino (BS ITE ‘20) Narratives Editor: Joseph B. Banaag (BS ME ‘20) Mentors Editor: Kirby G. Jalandoni (BS ME ‘20) Staff and Administration Editor: Gio P. Guinto (AB COM ‘20)

Ronaldo Gabriel J. Santiago (BS MGT ‘20)

Alexis C. Wang Bruce Nielson Dy. Ong Casey Augustine A. Saballe Frances Dianne G. Enriquez Jamie Mari J. Go Jim Francis B. Dasal Kaye Elizabeth P. Veneracion Jose Raphael Marco P. Ricafort Nathan Benjamin L. Bosano Maria Rosario Paulina V. Singh Raya Ashaunti H. Barreiro Gabriel Alfonso Voltaire J. Medina

GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR

DESIGNERS

Frances Isabella T. Martin (BFA ID ‘20)

Kat D. Garcia (BFA ID ‘20) Ronaldo Gabriel J. Santiago (BS MGT ‘20)

PHOTOS EDITOR

WRITERS Jyra Zoe T. Ang (BS LM ‘20) Apa D. Aquino (BS ITE ‘20) Bianca Mae R. Aragones (BS PSY ‘20) Joseph B. Banaag (BS ME ‘20) Koji P. Baui (BS ME ‘20) Benjie Bernal (BFA CW ‘20) Tiffany Bernardo (BS ME ‘20) Jaime D. David (BS ME ‘20) Margarita C. Gonzalez (BS PSY ‘20) Kirby G. Jalandoni (BS ME ‘20) Annicka B. Koteh (BS ME ‘20) Tiffany Lao (BS ME ‘20) Dominique U. Manipor (AB COM ‘20) Jay C. Munsayac (BS PSY ‘20) Roberto A. Orosa (AB COM ‘20) Deana P. Pagtalunan (BS ME ‘20) Miguel G. Policarpio (BS LM ‘20) Donna Ramirez (AB COM ‘20) Joaquin A. Santos (BS ME ‘20) Alithea C. Soriano (AB COM ‘20) Francine C. Tan (BS ME ‘20) Aaron D. Tolentino (AB DipIR ‘20)

Carmela B. Masiglat Kurt Tan Neil R. Reyes Romeo Arches Descalso III Tiffany Cu

SPECIAL THANKS TO Wanda Domingo JV Rabano Renesa Palonpon Stephen Tantoco Tony Reyes Yara Macalindong Francisco E. Vista III Greg Tam Felicia Tam Esab Raymundo Amber Lee Paul Cabacungan Blue Consulting Group Chloe Mabasa Anna Casugbu Kai Sevilla Anton Benitez Martha Dalumpines Yuka Fikuma

Message from the editor THERE WAS nothing particularly special about our last day in college. For many of us, March 9 was just another Monday, another flurry of academic requirements and extracurricular responsibilities to accomplish. It was most definitely not the last time we would see each other as students of Ateneo—there would still be tomorrow, or so we thought. It’s easy to fall into despair when we look back on that day—on what could have been, and all the extraordinary circumstances that followed shortly after. But as our online Senior Pabaon, our de facto graduation, comes to an end, we are reminded that our Ateneo experience is more than our stolen lasts. Much of our stay in Ateneo has been and will be defined by the middle and the after. First, the middle, the period of learning and practice between our first and last steps in Ateneo. Here, we were taught, in different ways, what it means to be men and women for others, what it means to practice magis and cura personalis. Most, if not all, Ateneans know these values by heart. Living out these ideals, on the other hand, is a different matter altogether, but we’ve had our fair share of opportunities to practice what we preach in Ateneo in our own little ways. Some of us have organized extraordinary acts of service through organizational work, while others practiced small acts of kindness, care, and compassion for themselves and their immediate groups. Either approach is just as well—the importance lies in knowing that these are the qualities we must actively work toward for the betterment of our communities. And it’s easy to remember that mission when we’re within the University, where every class is required to integrate these values into the curriculum. What happens when we leave Ateneo? This brings us to the after, or perhaps more accurately for us seniors, the now. We are stepping into a reality that feels like an episode straight out of Black Mirror (2011). There is a pandemic running amok, we have a government that only cares for its powerful allies, and everything is online. The past few months saw us glued to our screens, perhaps more connected and up to date with local and international events more than ever. As we watch these situations unfold, our first instinct may be to care for our own survival, to shield ourselves from these harsh realities. Thus, the after tests our ability to uphold our Atenean values in the “real world.” Will we be able to balance our need for success and stability with the call to serve others and contribute to nation-building in the best way we can? In those moments of doubt, reference the pages of this magazine, which contain the narratives of our collective and individual four-year efforts to be men and women for others who strive for magis and cura personalis. If anything, these stories are proof that we have, we can, and we will do the same as we leave Ateneo’s arms and face the real world. The after looks bleak—what with the implications of the ABS-CBN shutdown, the possible abuses of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, the looming encroachment of China, the continued abuses against minorities, and more—but our training at the University, though varied per course and specialization, emphasizes one thing: Regardless of

ALITHEA C. SORIANO Editor-in-Chief of The GUIDON 2019-2020 your background and personal interests, there is always something you can do to help. And so I guess our mindset on that fateful last day was correct: There will still be tomorrow, but it is one that we will have to actively help build. And, hopefully, when we reunite, we will have, in one small way or another, used our Atenean education and values to create a better after—not only for ourselves, but for the rest of the country as well. The sky is the limit from here on out, and I hope that as we soar, we remember to help others fly as well. Congratulations, Batch 2020! Welcome to the after, and see you tomorrow.

Table of Contents MILESTONES 6-7 Seeds of change 8-9 Mind and matter 10 The call for justice 11 Expanding perspectives TRIBUTES 12-13 Sophie de Jose

ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS 44 Laean Angeles 45 Jam Binay 46 Aya Cabauatan 47 Hikaru Murakami 48 Aisha Rallonza 49 Miko Reyes 50 Migs Villaluz 51 Alee Young

LEADERS AND ADVOCATES

NARRATIVES

16 17 18 19 20 21

56 57 58 59 60 61

Marga Antonio Mary Chow Angel de Leon Juan Troncales Newly accredited organizations Pip Ventigan

David Chua Rafa Chua Meriza Mamaril Jiro Reyes Gene Unabia Annika Uy

MENTORS

GENIUSES 26 Yumi Briones 27 Miguel Dobles 28 Robyn Dy 29 Lianna Lofranco 30 Lucia Lorenzo 31 Tara Oppen

64 65 66 67 68 69

ATHLETES

STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION

34 35 36 37 38 39

Raegan Gavino BJ Imperial Jia Kawachi Javi Macasaet Pao Reganit Joella De Vera

72 73 74-75 76-77 78-79

Mark Joseph Calano Trinket Canlas Olivia Habana Louie Julian Allan Ko Ramรณn Sunico

Ophalle Alonza-Pornela & Tats Quiblat Andrew Puen Department Secretaries Maria Luz Vilches, PhD Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ 5

MILESTONES

Seeds of change BY ANNICKA B. KOTEH THROUGHOUT COLLEGE, both the school and its students have undertaken efforts that reflected a rising awareness of environmental issues inside and outside of the campusâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from climate change to pollution to resource conservation and more. These issues have demanded stronger institutional and individual responses that consider our impact on nature. In this light, the Loyola Schools (LS) community has grown ever louder in demanding sustainable action from the University and society. Taking root As we entered college, Ateneo also ushered in new sustainability frameworks to cement its green commitments. 2016 saw the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability launch its Sustainability Policies and Specific Guidelines, which touched on ecological awareness, materials and energy conservation, food sustainability, as well as disaster risk reduction. In the same year, urban planning firm PGAA Creative

Design finished the University masterplan, which outlined campus improvements with the environment in mind. By 2017, Ateneo finally published its second Sustainability Report under Global Reporting Initiative standards. The report, covering 2014 to 2016, discussed programs for student formation and the environment, with some highlights being better waste segregation and water conservation systems. Aside from these guidelines, the University had smaller-scale initiatives to move students towards environmentalism. The Ateneo Walang Aberyang Yayanig sa Biyaheng Ateneo (WAY) shuttle service, later called the Ateneo P2P+, was likewise piloted in 2016 to reduce traffic congestion on campus. Moreover, students themselves have worked on building fuel-efficient cars through Ateneoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation in the Shell Eco-marathon since 2017, and the new Greenpark behind SEC-A gave Ateneans an eco-friendly hangout spotâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with wooden tables built from trees felled by typhoons. However, these initiatives have suffered from a lack of strong information campaigns. The school has yet to release a new sustainability report nor periodic updates on the PGAA masterplan. The Ateneo P2P+ shuttle experienced low ridership and resorted to fare impositions before being discontinued with little explanation. Blue Biyahe, a similar service led by the Sanggunian and the Office of the Associate Dean for Student and Administrative Services, ran for eight weeks from late October to December 2019, but more as a stopgap response to the LRT-2 shutdown than an environmental undertaking. The Shell Eco-Marathon, as well as the significance behind developments like the Greenpark have seldom been discussed on social media. Many in our batch have thus gone through college unaware of these steps towards sustainability.

Making waves If our first two years of college went by quietly with regard to the environment, the last two years would prove the opposite. We saw students, faculty, and staff speak out for their visions of sustainability, starting with 2018’s The Ateneo Wild: A social media project documenting campus flora and fauna. The initiative was founded by Biology Instructor Trinket Canlas and Environmental Science Instructor Abigail Favis. Though Canlas and Favis still manage the project, The Ateneo Wild crowdsources content: Its Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages have presented a collaborative way to learn about Ateneo’s biodiversity. But our defense of campus wildlife would be tested in April 2018. This marked the controversial New Rizal Library road extension proposal, a two-way road to the John Gokongwei Student Enterprise Center and Moro Lorenzo Field that would have cut through the School of Management Forest. Just 13 days after the project’s announcement, concerned LS faculty and staff circulated a joint statement, which eventually gathered 268 signatories against the road extension. The petitioners called for an alternative mobility solution that would preserve the tranquil School of Management Forest as the “most accessible green area on campus” still “insulated from vehicular traffic.” The school administration was then pressured to postpone construction and hold a Special School Forum, where the Sanggunian also reported that 82.6% of student survey respondents opposed the project. At the forum, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, admitted being “remiss” on consultations and community updates. The public outrage and the resulting discourse led to the cancellation of the road extension.

More recently, we have not only raised our voices with the LS community, but with other young activists as Ateneans mobilized for the Global Climate Strike last September 20, 2019. Different youth groups from and beyond Ateneo, as well as Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Chito Gascon, spoke of the most vulnerable sectors–such as workers, farmers, the poor–affected by environmental destruction. These efforts show Ateneans’ capacity to raise our voices for a greener world. Still, there is always more to discuss and do when it comes to the University’s promises of sustainability. As we leave the Loyola Schools, it is now on us to heed nature’s call and sow change in a bigger field.

MILESTONES SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Mind and matter BY MARGARITA C. GONZALEZ

OF THE many causes that have been given attention during the batch’s stay in Ateneo, mental health awareness is among the most prominent. Driven by the advocacy to remove the stigma on mental health, members of Batch 2020 have done much to encourage self-care and mental wellness and push for more accessible mental healthcare. Creating a kinder world The Sanggunian’s decision to form their Commission on Mental Health (CMH) in 2017 was a significant move towards promoting mental wellness in the University. The CMH advocates for mental health awareness and serves as an avenue to communicate students’ feedback about the Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling’s (LSOGC) services. Today, the CMH promotes mental health awareness in partnership with other student organizations through various projects. In fact, the Sanggunian and its partners promoted Mental Health Awareness Week as early as 2016 to encourage mental health discourse through activities, events, and online information campaigns. Now rebranded as Mental Health Awareness + Action Week, the event is organized yearly by the school’s Mental Health Coalition, which consists of the CMH, Ateneo Psyche, and Ateneo Peers. A slew of organizations, such as APair and the Ateneo Special Education Society, has also partnered with the coalition to help organize the event. The school has also made efforts to promote mental wellness through the LSOGC’s annual Wellness Week, which involves art activities, talks, and events that aim to encourage self-care. In July 2017, the LSOGC introduced animal assisted therapy sessions with dogs from their partner organization, Communitails. To further prompt students to care for their mental and physical

health, the office also put up Blue Snooze, a nap room that was made available in the Social Sciences building in November 2018. No one left behind Despite the existence of programs that encourage self-care among members of the Loyola Schools, there have still been calls for the school to provide assistance for students who cannot afford psychiatric services and medication. Though the LSOGC offers free counseling services, students with mental health diagnoses must turn to other professionals for psychiatric consultations. Though the school has a fund that caters to this need, it has many limitations. The Office of the Vice President for the Loyola Schools already provided a mental health medication subsidy to students beginning in 2015. The fund had a cap of Php 10,000 for medication, hospital fees, and consultations with mental health professionals and Php 20,000 for emergency confinement in hospitals per student. However, unless students were incapable of affording these fees, those who availed of the subsidy eventually had to reimburse the school for using this fund since it was not part of the University’s official budget. Though the fund is still available today, its limitations emphasize how more could be done for those with limited access to psychiatric services and medication.

After gaining the student body’s approval through a plebiscite, the Sanggunian took it upon themselves to create a Php 1 million investment fund for mental health services this school year. As the fund is still newly formed, the Sanggunian’s CMH plans to grow it in the coming years and use its annual interest of Php 30,000 to 40,000 for mental health subsidies. Though the Sanggunian’s fund is a step in the right direction, many students will still require assistance for attaining mental healthcare services in the meantime. Aside from addressing the stigma against mental health, both the school and students alike should keep working toward providing those in need with more access to mental healthcare.

l ten a

h t l eh a 9

MILESTONES MENTAL HEALTH

The call for justice BY MARGARITA C. GONZALEZ

WE HAVE heard whispers of sexual harassment cases that involve professors ever since our first year in the University. It was an open secret—one that was primarily discussed through anonymous social media platforms like Reddit and ADMU Freedom Wall. For a long time, it seemed like these secrets would always remain in the dark. Every time these accusations were posted online, the administration would respond in a tight-lipped manner, releasing as little information as possible. Even though the anonymous accusations went viral, with students expressing their anger and disappointment towards the administration, the discussion would eventually die down—at least until the next case would come to light. After four long years of this pattern, viral accusations, band aid statements from the school, and silence in between cases, the administration finally issued more specific and direct responses to the existence of these cases in 2019—but only after the October 15 protest against sexual misconduct and impunity, which saw students and professors alike rally against the University’s underwhelming response to cases of sexual harassment. Push and pull Prior to 2017, the school did not have a centralized body solely tasked with handling sexual harassment cases. This was addressed when the University created the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) in compliance with the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995. However, the majority of the LS community was not privy to the composition of the committee, save for its chair at that time.

platforms to express their disappointment and anger with the administration, particularly with the school’s lack of transparency on the matter. Thankfully, the Sanggunian took it upon themselves to respond to the situation. In the same year, the student government created the Commission on AntiSexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV), which was composed of students, faculty, and administrators. The committee would go on to counsel survivors, promote safe spaces, and assist students in filing sexual misconduct complaints. This was also the year when the administration committed to “building a gender-inclusive, gender-responsive, and gender-safe Community” through a policy statement that the Sanggunian had lobbied for. The school made concrete progress towards this commitment in August 2019 through the institution of the LS Gender Hub, which was tasked with offering counseling services for sexual misconduct survivors and providing case companions for those who intend to file complaints. Patching the gaps Though platforms like CASMV and the Gender Hub provide survivors with much-needed support and guidance, many continue to assert the need for stronger structural reforms in the handling of sexual misconduct cases.

The CODI was far from perfect. In fact, there are survivors who have criticized CODI’s processes and demanded for more sensitive and efficient handling of sexual harassment cases. These survivors felt that the committee was intimidating during their hearings and that the school could have provided more aftercare and support for those who came forward.

The community’s patience finally wore thin after another sexual harassment accusation against a faculty member came to light in October 2019. The now-deleted viral social media post about the case led to the historic October 15 protest against sexual misconduct and impunity. During the protest, which gained national media coverage, students and teachers alike expressed their outrage with the administration’s lackluster solutions over the years. Days later, members of the Ateneo community formed Time’s Up Ateneo, a group that advocates for reforms in the school’s processes and approach for sexual misconduct cases.

The same demands would only grow louder and more urgent in the years to come. In 2017, the school was rocked by a rise in the number of sexual harassment complaints that were received by the Sanggunian. Then, 2018 saw shocking sexual harassment allegations against professors go viral on social media. Members of the student body took to various

After the October 15 protest, the school announced that it would initiate an external audit to get a clearer perspective on how to revise the existing processes for handling sexual harassment complaints. The administration also began the process of crafting an anti-sexual harassment manual, which would consolidate all the school’s processes for handling

sexual misconduct. The document hopes to address the primary concerns that were raised by the community, such as transparency, efficiency, and clarity in the processes for filing complaints. Though the manual was originally slated for release at the end of 2019, it is currently still undergoing revisions as of writing. Aside from this, University President Jett Villarin, SJ, also formed a women-led Interim CODI in December 2019, which was tasked to investigate sexual misconduct cases, promote discussions on sexual offenses, and foster safe spaces until May 31, 2020. To set a precedent for the succeeding CODI, the full list of members of the Interim CODI was publicly released. It is important to acknowledge that this is the school’s most transparent response to the issue of sexual harassment to date. In fact, Villarin himself acknowledged the school’s shortcomings in handling sexual misconduct through a memo. However, there is still much to improve on in terms of the school’s transparency with these cases. An investigative report by The GUIDON would later reveal a misleading technicality in another statement released by Villarin on October 23. The statement said that CODI had not received any formal complaints against a certain Philosophy professor, but it failed to acknowledge that there were at least two formal complaints filed against him in 2016, prior to the creation of CODI in 2017. Two steps forward, one step back The University has made strides in reforming its processes for sexual harassment complaints since 2016, but it still lacks in terms of transparency. Though the historic October 15 protest helped erase the stigma and taboo about sexual harassment cases that involve professors, the administration must still do their part in participating and encouraging this kind of discourse. It should not take another four—or perhaps more— years of silence before important details about such cases are brought to light. Moving forward, the University should maximize this period of growth to better address the needs of survivors, who continue to hope that the school will be more sensitive and provide them with the support they need. Currently, all eyes are on the University administration to deliver its promises to improve its systems and stand against sexual misconduct more openly in the years to come.

MILESTONES

Expanding perspectives BY MARGARITA C. GONZALEZ

KNOWN AS the Alternative Class Program when it was discontinued in 2009, the Talakayang Alay Sa Bayan (TALAB) program has followed Batch 2020 since its revival in February 2017. Loyola Schools students are required to attend TALAB events annually so that they can experience opportunities to reflect on culture, history, and the sociopolitical issues that concern the country. Throughout the past years, external partners and student organizations have used the program as a platform to host presentations, workshops, film viewings, and tours that aim to encourage action and discourse in response to the state of the nation. To achieve this, TALAB events have frequently tackled topics such as environmentalism, gender equality, human rights, and art as a means to process and digest sensitive matters. These events have also allowed the plight of different groups in Philippine society to shine through. In the past, various TALAB talks have highlighted the perspectives of sectors such as laborers, communities in poverty, and indigenous peoples. In its first year, TALAB featured the following standout talks by prominent speakers: “Social Justice, Human Rights, and the 1987 Constitution: An Alternative Law Practitioner’s Appraisal” by Vice President Leni Robredo and Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal Executive Director Attorney Hazel Lavitoria and “#NoPlaceForHate: Social Media and Democracy” by the head of Rappler’s Investigative Desk Chay Hofileña and Rappler reporter Pia Ranada. And in their last year in Ateneo, seniors were able to learn more about current events and pressing issues that they could help resolve after they leave the University. Some of the notable TALAB talks in 2019 include: “Bawal na ang Bastos” a talk on the Bawal Bastos law by panelists Senator Risa Hontiveros, former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles and former Sanggunian School of Social Sciences Representative Dasha Uy; and “What Is To Be Done: Labor Activism in the Front Line” by Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) President Attorney Luke Espiritu and BMP member Rafael La Viña.

used the program to recruit participants for their EconTours and host KamalAEAn, a conference that tackles socioeconomic issues like tax reform.

Many student leaders make use of TALAB as another means to externalize their organization’s advocacies as well. For instance, Project LAAN, which promotes accessible public health and health literacy, used TALAB as a platform to organize talks on healthcare and health insurance. The Ateneo Economics Association has also

As TALAB becomes increasingly ingrained in each student’s Ateneo experience, the program continues to impart knowledge of national issues and sector-related concerns. In the coming years, the program can further widen its range of topics, and in turn, widen students’ perspectives.

TRIBUTES

Sophie De Jose A TRIBUTE BY ALEXANDRA GOÑO (AB COM ’20) AND MIKAELA B. REYES (AB COM ’20)

Alix When I met Sophie four years ago, it was at the very beginning of our Ateneo journey at the Freshman Orientation Seminar (OrSem). Back then, we were two awkward freshmen who didn’t quite know what to do when we were thrust into a sea of new people. Yet, she broke the ice that day. We started talking as if we knew each other for years and didn’t just meet that day. Sophie had that effervescent quality to her that made you feel so safe around her, no matter what. For me, especially that first year, she was the reason I knew things were going to be okay. After OrSem, we found out that we had nearly every class together, and we fell into a safe rhythm. Sophie was my constant in that freshman year. Any time I needed help, from sickness to classes, she was there. In turn, I was there for anything she needed, from texts and calls to wake her up for our 8:00 AM English and Literature class in Bellarmine. We were there for each other, for every up and down; for every adventure, heartache, problem, all-nighter; for every single moment that freshman year had to offer us. Most of my firsts in Ateneo were shared with her too: From my first class to the first time getting kicked out of a class, my first Ateneo game, my first walwalan, my first time going to a gig, and countless more. But after that first year, we couldn’t share any lasts. When I last saw her on June 7, 2017, we had lunch at a place that’s no longer in Katipunan. We talked about a future that wouldn't exist. So many plans were made that day—from which classes we were going to take to the parties we were planning to attend. But in two short days, my entire world turned on its head and she was gone. No one could go that fast, I thought. But she did. All of a sudden, I had no one I could share laughs with anymore or tag in memes. She was that irreplaceable in my life. No one could stand as tall as her or have cheeks that shined as rosy as hers. Until this day, I sometimes still see posts on social media that I know she would laugh her head off at or posters for events she might have enjoyed, but I pause and scroll on.

I miss you so much, Soph. I hope you’re good wherever you are. You remind me every day of what life means and what it ought to mean. Until the day we meet again. Moosh I had just been called into my home org’s room in MVP after being told I was chosen as block rep. As a freshman, I was so scared to enter a place where most people knew each other but I didn’t know anyone. As I entered the room, I remember seeing her smiling. This was the first time I would catch myself smiling with Sophie de Jose. After seeing her in the org room, I started seeing Sophie more and more on campus. We had classes together and bumped into each other a lot. Sophie was always an offline type of person. She preferred face to face meetups for work and for fun. This was what I really admired about her. Sophie knew how to brighten up a room and keep it bright no matter what the situation was. The last time I saw Sophie, I asked her to keep me company before going to our home org’s last party for the school year. We spent half a day in UPTC walking around and making chismis about boys then headed to her condo to just enjoy each other’s company. If I knew this was the last time I was going to see her, I would have hugged her so much longer than I did that day. On June 9, 2017, I lost my college best friend. She became the reason why I always check in on my friends religiously on social media and in real life. She became the reason why I stayed in my home org for the rest of my college life. She helped me in so many ways before and after she had passed. I just wish I could have done so much more for her. Sophie, I never got to tell you how much you meant to me. You were my fellow block rep who I could always count on. You were my classmate in so many classes who I could make jokes with and ask for help from. Most of all, you were my best friend who I loved so so much. I know wherever you are, it’s a brighter place with you in it. Keep smiling with your rosy cheeks.

e i h p o S

Sophie was the kickstarter to my whole college life. Without her, I don’t know where I would be. She guided me through that difficult first year, and I mourn the fact that she can’t be here for what would have been our last. I know I’m only one of the many lives she touched during her time here. But wherever she is, I hope she rests knowing that she has, from here on out, a place in our hearts.

Leaders & Advocates 16

Marga Antonio Championing a lifelong cause

Juan Gabriel Troncales Behind the scenes

Mary Chow Compassion in leadership

Newly accredited organizations On new beginnings

Angel de Leon Making a home for others

Pip Ventigan A dynamic leader

LEADERS & ADVOCATES CHAMPIONING A LIFELONG CAUSE

Marga Antonio BY DOMINIQUE U. MANIPOR BEING IN service of others is a lesson that does not escape Ateneans. Marga Antonio (5 BS HS, Minor in Development Management) lives out this mission through promoting public health, not only within the campus, but also on the global stage. As a health sciences major, Marga is thankful that her professors made her increasingly aware of the work that needs to be done in the Philippines’ public health system. From there, her work as this school year’s Vice President for Research and Discourse in Project LAAN and her involvement in the United Nations (UN) Youth Assembly became avenues to apply what she learned in the classroom. Throughout college, her experiences inside and outside of her course have solidified her passion and commitment to advocating for accessible healthcare for Filipinos. Serving local communities Her time in Project LAAN has deepened her understanding of the developments essential for people who are not adequately catered to by the public health system. The organization’s main advocacy is to increase healthcare access for Filipinos living in poverty, which it accomplishes by providing partner communities with modules that help them learn about their rights to healthcare and to make healthier choices. Meeting with Project LAAN’s partner communities helped Marga see that healthcare is physically inaccessible and unaffordable for marginalized sectors. “To be able to hear the stories of people, such as nanays (mothers) who have to walk over a day just to get to the health center, pregnant, [and] hike down the hill—sometimes kasi you really don’t have access,” Marga shares.

Marga sees that there is a necessity for key players, both inside and outside the medical industry, to contribute to the improvement of the country’s public health system. She considers effective communication imperative to making information on healthcare easier to understand. This entails arranging talks on healthcare and creating information campaigns that are easily understood, especially for communities with low literacy rates. Widening her worldview Though she was able to see the state of healthcare in the Philippines, her participation in the UN Youth Assembly allowed her to learn about public health on a global scale. Thanks to Project LAAN’s community development initiatives, she was able to shed light on the problems of an underdeveloped public health system in the country during the assembly. After discussing issues that plague healthcare in different countries, Marga sees value in bringing in the knowledge of healthcare experts outside of the country. Dialogue with other countries will help resolve public health issues in the Philippines because other nations’ ideas can prompt viable improvements for the country’s public health system. Aside from being able to engage in dialogue with young people from all over the world about public health issues, she and her team also pitched a project during the assembly that would improve literacy on mental health. Their project involved culturally relevant modules and resource materials for Filipinos, especially those in the poverty-stricken communities. She proceeded to be one of the top ten finalists that would present their initiatives in Washington, DC. “I think pushing for that discussion in whatever stage you are, whatever opportunity you have, that’s the best

thing because that’s how...we’re hopefully going to reach a solution,” Marga says. Life after Ateneo Marga gradually learned that the whole process of advocating for a cause is not immediate as it needs to be continuously worked on for change to occur. The people involved in advocating to improve public health face the possibility that they will never see the fruits of their labor. Yet, the hope of creating a brighter future is what helps her power through to ensure that the advocacy lives on. “There’s a lot of trust involved that you’re going to be working towards something that you might not see the results of, and the thing is that you do it because it’s necessary,” she says. The inspiration to keep fighting for a better public health system comes from the people Marga encountered in different communities. She has witnessed the concrete effect of the country’s lacking public health system on families who cannot afford proper healthcare. Bringing her experiences from college along with her, she prepares herself for the lifelong commitment of advocating for the improvement of public health for those who need it most.

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LEADERS & ADVOCATES COMPASSION IN LEADERSHIP

Mary Chow BY JAY C. MUNSAYAC “SLOW PROGRESS is [still] progress,” says Ateneo Special Education Society (SPEED) President Mary Chow (4 BS PSY), citing a quote that is close to her heart. This phrase is a fitting description of her fouryear journey towards this leadership role. What started out as a wide-eyed perspective of SPEED eventually led to a plan to promote SPEED’s advocacy for a more inclusive society to the rest of the Ateneo community. Outside looking in Mary decided to join SPEED because one of her family members is a person with special needs (PWSNs). “When I learned more about [the] advocacy during RecWeek…I realized I wanted to join not just because my friends were there, but because I have a cousin who is part of the [special needs] sector and I didn’t really have a lot of chances to interact with her,” she recounts. Despite her early apprehensions about her lack of knowledge about the sector, she was able to learn more about PWSNs in her first few months in SPEED. Mary gradually formed bonds with the sector through area visits, and she credits her first year in the organization for pushing her outside of her comfort zone. All in all, Mary considers her area visits to Servants of Charity (SOC) as a “formative experience as an advocate.” “When you’re in a sector-based organization, it’s kind of hard to be able to develop the passion that you have for the sector if you’re not, or if you don’t really have an experience where you’re immersed in them,” she explains. Her time spent in area visits enabled her to understand the sector from a more intimate perspective. Through her visits to SOC, she saw PWSNs’ day-to-day lives firsthand and got to know each person she met beyond their diagnoses.

Empowering others Mary’s desire to contribute to the sector pushed her to take on a leadership role in her second year. Her vision was to bring the advocacy closer to her orgmates and to help PWSNs feel that there is “a two-way relationship in the advocacy.” “It wasn’t that we were just doing this for the people, for the sector that we’re serving. We’re really doing this with [PWSNs] also,” she says.

Building bridges At that point, many of her peers felt that she had proven herself as a leader to the rest of SPEED, making her the prime candidate to assume the presidency in her senior year. Not wanting to take the position simply due to external pressure, she underwent a discernment process that made her realize that she had a vision to promote the organization’s advocacy, not just within SPEED, but to the rest of the University.

With her position as Holistic Development Head, she focused on the formation of her fellow SPEED members. Through this, she learned that she can’t impose what she feels about the advocacy on others. Instead, she can guide them in synthesizing and reflecting upon their experiences.

Mary, along with her fellow council members, was able to achieve just that in the first semester of her presidency with the creation of the Sanggunian’s Commission on Special Needs Inclusion (CPSNI). “We wanted to have or to bring inclusion into Ateneo. So it wasn’t just SPEED being inclusive, it’s the whole Ateneo being inclusive,” she explains. CPSNI also serves as a platform for projects and initiatives that would be carried out in cooperation with the Sanggunian, ensuring that policies catering to students with special needs have a better chance of being implemented.

It only seemed natural to take on the position as Vice President (VP) of Membership Formation (MemForm) in the succeeding year. While discerning about whether she wanted to run for the position, Mary thought about what else she could contribute to the sector while staying rooted in her vision. As VP for MemForm she was tasked with forming members’ approach towards the sector so that their dedication to the advocacy would create ripples even outside of the organization. While her work as VP was mostly internals-based, one of the memories that stuck with her from her junior year involved one of SPEED’s external flagship projects: Sparkle. The whole-day event has area kids visit Ateneo and participate in workshops and activities. “Being able to find ways where I can interact with the sector again [and] go back to the reason why I love the advocacy, it’s something that grounds me in my work,” she explains.

As the CPSNI lays the groundwork for future SPEED leaders, Mary leaves her SPEED legacy with a few words of encouragement for her successor: “Be open to where the advocacy will take you, the people who are with you, and the people in the sector [because] being able to work together is important to move forward with the advocacy.”

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LEADERS & ADVOCATES MAKING A HOME FOR OTHERS

Angel de Leon BY BIANCA MAE R. ARAGONES ANGEL DE LEON (5 AB-MA POS) hails from Kobe, Japan. After high school, she decided to pursue her course in the Philippines without any knowledge of what life in the country would be like.

true leader takes on a position because of what they can do for the interests and wellbeing of others. This mindset, along with the encouragement of her fellow dormers, drove Angel to run for the presidency.

orating, and it’s knowing really when to ask help from others, and that’s what makes a good leader because you can’t do it alone, [which is why] I am so grateful for all of my team,” says Angel.

Leaving all she knew behind was understandably difficult for Angel, and she feared that she would be completely alone in a foreign country and a new school. Thankfully, Angel eventually found a family through the bonds she made with people in the Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA), the home organization for dormers in Ateneo.

“Most people said [the position] for me [should be] president, and then that’s when it kinda locked in, saying like maybe yeah, I can do this,” recalls Angel.

After accomplishing most of her goals for the organization, Angel hopes that ARSA’s next batch of leaders can continue where she left off. She now passes the baton to her successor and hopes that the organization can continue making a home in the University that not only services its residents, but also sectors in need.

ARSA served as a source of comfort and familiarity in Angel’s time of need. When Angel was presented with the opportunity to serve and lead the organization that took her in, she wholeheartedly said yes. As she stepped into the shoes of ARSA President, she focused on encouraging the organization’s members to engage with and assist communities from within and beyond the dorms. From a dream to a reality It took a bit of time and experience in other organizations before Angel realized that she had “a home away from home” in ARSA. After attending her classes and participating in other org activities in school, Angel would find herself always going back to the University Dormitory to wind down from the day with the family she had made there. Those mundane moments with her closest friends made her decide that she wanted to serve the community that provided her with love and support. Once she decided to run for a position in the ARSA Central Board (CB), she looked to Netflix’s The Two Popes for inspiration on what it means to be a true leader. Her biggest takeaway from the film is that a

A woman for others Angel wanted to ensure that she would lead the organization to leave an impact beyond the confines of the Residence Halls: “I also wanted to bring in an opportunity for dormers to experience outreach programs because it’s a holistic thing. They need to know what is really outside in the world and not just within the dorm,” she explains. She then turned her attention to initiatives that would help ARSAns engage with different communities. These projects included ARSA’s partnership with Gawad Kalinga, where they helped build houses for people in the area of Quezon City’s Quirino Avenue Gem 5, and Dorm Family Day, a project that ARSAns host yearly for the staff within the University Dorm Residences. She also planned to organize a coastal clean-up, but the project was cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from these projects, Angel and her team partnered with the Loyola Schools Gender Hub, an office that assists survivors of sexual misconduct, to create more safe spaces within the school and the dorms. Angel credits much of ARSA’s success with the externalization of their services to the dorm’s administrators, who worked hand-in-hand with the CB to execute and improve projects and processes. “It’s really like collab-

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LEADERS & ADVOCATES ON NEW BEGINNINGS

Juan Troncales BY BIANCA MAE R. ARAGONES JUAN TRONCALES (5 BS APS and BS MSE) came into the University with wide eyes. Coming from a small high school, Juan was eager to widen his perspectives, and he was able to accomplish just that through serving Ateneo’s community of students in various student-run administrative offices. Juan is graduating with numerous titles under his belt: Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Traditions (InTACT) Spokesperson 2019-2020, Ateneo AEGIS Editor-in-Chief for AY 2019-2020, and Chairperson for Seniors’ Alliance 2019-2020, to name a few. Though many students don’t know of his efforts, much of Juan’s extracurricular work was in the interest of improving the college experience for his fellow schoolmates. For the freshies Juan has served each freshman batch in the past four years, handling a total of six InTACT blocks during his time in college. After being encouraged by his own InTACT facilitator to join the program, Juan decided that he wanted to guide the freshmen throughout their first-year journey in Ateneo. Juan was quickly inducted into the core team after his first year as a facilitator, and he has been part of the program ever since. This school year, the InTACT program had to undergo modifications after the implementation of the K-12 system and the revisions to the school’s curricula. Working alongside the programs’ coordinator Erikha Villiasanta, Juan revised InTACT modules to fit the newly introduced freshman classes. He also consolidated these in a manual that would be used by homeroom advisors and student facilitators. As the 2019-2020 Spokesperson for InTACT, Juan worked with the InTACT Core to create foundational materials to improve the consistency of the program.

He curated the rebranding process for InTACT as well as an internal procedure manual to be used by InTACT’s incoming batch of core members. Despite numerous changes to the program he fell in love with, Juan’s passion for InTACT and its impact on the freshmen remained. “It’s like I got kicked onto a boat and my choice wasn’t to swim back to shore but to explore the sea,” he says. For the seniors In Juan’s experience, being a member of the student offices is not the most glamorous job. Much of his work goes unnoticed since most Ateneans are unaware of his involvement in large-scale school events, like the Talakayang Alay sa Bayan program, the Senior’s Pabaon, and the Loyola Schools Awards for Leadership and Service. Despite this, Juan shares that he does not do his work to gain recognition: “I’m not in it [so] that they remember my name but [to ensure that the] experience is really good for students.”

Although he did not not intend to involve himself in student service when he first entered the University, Juan is now leaving behind a legacy: “It’s a feeling and atmosphere that I helped establish. I left a mark or an imprint that is beyond myself.”

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Since 2018, Juan has helped with the Senior’s Pabaon program. He and his fellow organizers worked tirelessly to ensure that the seniors have a memorable send-off. Now, as Juan finally becomes one of the people being sent off, he feels sentimental. “I always got goosebumps every time I think about [leaving]...but now I don’t know what I am going to feel. It’s something, something I haven’t actually wrapped my mind [around],” he says. Even if he is graduating with a different batch from the one he started college with, Juan still feels a sense of community with this year’s seniors. “It’s not about what batch I’m from, but who I want to serve and who I am walking out of Ateneo with,” he says.

LEADERS & ADVOCATES ON NEW BEGINNINGS

L-R: Sam Arnaldo, Nikki Dolfo, Chloe Mabasa, Chiara Siochi

Newly accredited organizations BY DOMINIQUE U. MANIPOR TAKING ON the highest position in an organization is a daunting experience for a student leader. Pressure is placed upon the leaders who are anticipated to give direction to the organization entrusted to them. But for the presidents of the organizations that were newly accredited by the Office of Student Activities (OSA), there is a heavier weight on their shoulders as they adjust to the systems of the Coalition of Accredited Organization of Ateneo (COA). Taking the first step After undergoing the Student Organizations Assessment and Review (SOAR), OSA’s accreditation program, the presidents of the newly accredited organizations initially did not expect their terms to be different from their predecessors’. However, Sam Arnaldo (4 AB IS) of Ateneo Hinomoto, Chiara Siochi (4 AB COM) of Ateneo Blue Consulting Group, Chloe Mabasa (4 AB PSY) of the Institute of Skin-divers of Ateneo (ISDA), and Nikki Dolfo (5 AB SOS, Minor in Literature) of Barefoot Philippines all quickly realized that they must work under new conditions in their bid for accreditation. “Being put in a situation where you have to compete for your right to prove yourself, it really pushes the [organization] to go over the way that things were done before and to do it better,” Chloe says. For Sam, Chiara, Chloe, and Nikki, heading their respective organizations means highlighting the capabilities of their officers and members while honing the skills that they possess. Being in a position to take care of others pushed them to believe in themselves in spite of the doubts that lingered in their thoughts. But more than that, what strengthened their drive as student leaders were the advocacies that serve as the

foundation of each of their organizations. Falling in love with their organization’s advocacy became the stepping stone for them to foster the same love within their members. It is this love, passion, and the desire to care for their members that kept them going as leaders. On the journey itself After braving the throes of Project SOAR, the newly accredited organizations had another set of challenges waiting for them. “There is a pressure, it’s not in [Project] SOAR, but what happens after, especially when you get that accreditation status, and I think that’s where I think all of us are struggling now because it’s a different culture that we have to adjust to,” Sam says. While settling into their term as presidents, they had to wade through the uncharted waters of COA and OSA, adjusting to new systems like the finance structures implemented in accredited organizations. Nonetheless, they understood that adapting to the new environment is for the betterment of their organizations, as accreditation comes with invaluable perks, like an org room, funding, and mentorship from OSA. Through the help and guidance of OSA’s formators and coordinators, adjusting to the new procedures and gradually finding their place in COA became easier. Moving forward As their terms come to an end, Sam, Chiara, Chloe, and Nikki have a better understanding of a student leader’s journey. Trusting the process, relying on your officers and members, and learning from failure, are the advice they wish to impart to their successors. “Learn from the mistakes that we made this year and all the other previous years, and...never forget your why: Why you joined in the first place and why you wanna

lead also because that will get you through all the burnouts and all the challenges,” says Chiara. While the situation was more complex for them this year, being a student leader made their time in Ateneo more fulfilling. This kind of service allowed these four leaders to grow in ways that they could not find anywhere else but in their own organizations—their second homes.

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LEADERS & ADVOCATES A DYNAMIC LEADER

Pip Ventigan BY JAY C. MUNSAYAC PIP VENTIGAN (5 BS CH-MSE) did not aspire to climb the ladder of organizational leadership when he first entered the University. To him, college was a fresh start—one that would demand focus on academics rather than the extra-curricular participation he enjoyed in high school. It’s not a surprising mindset to have, considering his full plate of responsibilities: Not only did Pip have to grapple with a challenging science course, but he also had to maintain his status as a financial aid scholar. However, Pip’s outlook changed as he was thrust into various leadership roles throughout his stay in college. Though he is now known as the 2019-2020 Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) President and an Ateneo Student Leader Assembly (ASLA) Facilitation Leader, Pip began his journey as a leader much closer to his roots: With the Ateneo Chemistry Society (AChes), his home organization. Humble aspirations Pip’s first stint in college organization life and the fulfillment it brought began with a hosting gig for AChes’ flagship project: The Ateneo Chemistry Olympiad. Here, he witnessed how his organization could bring positive change to people’s lives: “Akala ko kasi in Chem, lab lang or sa loob lang ng isang building, research research lang. Nakita ko parang ang laki ng social impact niya (I thought that Chemistry only involved doing laboratory work inside a building or just research. I realized how big of a social impact it actually has).” This inspired Pip to pursue leadership positions in AChes—first as an Associate Vice President (VP) for Human Resources in his sophomore year, then as VP for Internals - Special Projects in his junior year. His goal as a leader was to inspire the new crop of

freshmen to realize how chemistry can leave a positive impact beyond science. In his junior year, Pip focused on AChes’ member formation through a “grassroots” approach—one that allowed members to tailor the organization’s initiatives around their own goals, instead of allowing a select few to call the shots. Due to the impending challenge of writing a thesis in his fourth year, he was unsure about pursuing another position. However, he was persuaded to run as AChes’ President by the very members he helped mold. “[What struck me] at that time [was] the trust [of the] members because it’s not the officers who [want me to run]. It’s my members,” he shares. Pip also joined ASLA during his term as AChes President. His time at the seminar inspired him to create a more concrete vision for his home organization. With a fresh perspective in tow, Pip went on to lead AChes with a fully realized plan: To instill a concrete vision in each of the organization’s projects. Broadening horizons Pip’s background as a leader for AChes and a member of ASLA made it easy to conclude that he had already achieved everything that he could as a student-leader. It seemed like the end of the road for his organizational life, and Pip was eager to dedicate his last year in college to his academics. He had a challenging year ahead as he was set to work on another thesis amid financial constraints. This made it difficult for him to consider another leadership position that he was encouraged to take on: COA President. Thankfully, Pip was awarded another scholarship, and he took this as a sign to pursue the job.

In the same year, he also became a Facilitation Leader in ASLA, allowing him to create platforms for ASLA’s members, just as he did as AChes’ VP for Internals Special Projects. Transitioning from handling AChes, which had around 150 members, to leading COA, which included 56 accredited organizations of almost 7,000 constituents, was a herculean task Pip only pulled off by sticking to his grassroots approach. “Prior to my term, I interviewed all the incoming presidents one by one, ”he shares. These interviews allowed him to get to know his fellow student-leaders and gave him a better understanding of their needs. Pip’s member-centric style of leadership is best seen through the COA Convention, a platform for student leaders to discuss the issues they want COA to address. Aside from this, he gathered the officers-in-charge of promoting the advocacies of each organization to encourage them to engage in social issues and current events outside of their respective organizations’ focus. Given that certain projects can’t be completed over a single year, Pip’s legacy is seen in the COA Organization Development Goals 2030, which aims to guide organizations in forming and accomplishing their longterm projects for the years to come.

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While his impressive body of work may seem like a one-man act, Pip credits everyone he has ever worked with for his accomplishments: “You need to be with your members. You need their advice, you need their voice, and you need to use that collective voice for the betterment of your organization and betterment of the society.”

Mary Chow Ateneo Special Education Society Photos by Amber Lee and Esab Raymundo

Chiara Siochi Ateneo Blue Consulting Group Photos courtesy of BCG

Chloe Mabasa Nikki Dolfo Barefoot Philippines Photos courtesy of Anton Benitez and Kai Sevilla

Institute of Skin-divers of Ateneo Photos courtesy of Anna Casugbu and Chloe Mabasa

Marga Antonio Project LAAN Photos courtesy of Felicia Tam

Angel De Leon Ateneo Resident Students Association Photos courtesy of Francisco E. Vista III and Jamie Go

Pip Ventigan Council of Organizations of the Ateneo, Ateneo Chemistry Society, Ateneo Student Leader Assembly Photos courtesy of Caleb Sy and Paul Cabacungan

Sam Arnaldo Ateneo Hinomoto Photos courtesy of Marha Dalumpines and Nate Bosano

Juan Troncales Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Traditions Photo courtesy of Jamie Go

Geniuses 26

Yumi Briones Flipping through the pages

Lianna Lofranco Exploring the uncharted

Miguel Dobles Finding the best medicine

Lucia Lorenzo Moment to moment

Robyn Dy When passion meets talent

Tara Oppen The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stage

GENUISES FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES

Yumi Briones BY TIFFANY LAO “MY LIFE is kind of like a storybook,” Yumi says, amazed at how the events of her life seem to have fallen into perfect place. After four years in Ateneo, Batch 2020 Class Valedictorian and Program Awardee for Chemistry Yumi Briones (4 BS CH) is graduating summa cum laude. Her long list of achievements also includes being recognized as the 2019 Most Outstanding Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines and doing innovative work in green energy and anti-cancer research.

One of these was a newfound love for applying her learnings in different contexts. After meeting three other exchange students from the Philippines, she was invited to join her first business competition. While their team did not place, it gave her a glimpse of the impact her field could have on the world. “That was something I never thought I would do as a Chem major. I thought that at most I’d do science competitions...That [competition] was the first thing that launched everything else,” says Yumi.

Yet for a student as decorated as she is, what may surprise some is that when it comes to her plans for the future, Yumi is still in the process of figuring things out.

Back home, Yumi began finding more ways to challenge what she could do with what she was learning. One of her most memorable experiences was joining the Schneider Go Green Competition with her blockmate Gabby Ozaeta. Together they created Rainshine, a panel that draws energy from the sun and rain to address the challenge of creating sustainable cities. The duo bested thousands of teams around the world, earning one of the seven coveted slots in the global finals.

A quest for purpose Yumi was nervous in her first year of college. Ateneo was massive; it had a large campus, dozens of different courses, and thousands of students she did not grow up around. “I didn’t get into a lot of outside stuff. I really focused on my academics and getting used to the climate here in school,” she recalls. Naturally, this meant a lot of time spent buried in books, but in Yumi’s case, it only allowed her love of learning to flourish. “My main motivation was to work hard to learn things,” shares Yumi. Soon enough, it was exactly that love that put her on a path to exploring her full potential. Third year brought with it an opportunity to go on a Junior Term Abroad, and the chance to learn in a new environment gave her a reason to take the plunge. Yumi was awarded a full scholarship to the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the experience allowed her to discover new passions outside of her comfort zone.

Joining these competitions was an exciting avenue for Yumi to expand her knowledge outside the classroom setting, but it was also a very personal experience that spurred her on to find true direction. Where the journey leads The day Yumi received news of her scholarship to NUS was also the day her grandfather passed away after a battle with lung cancer. “I took it as a sign that things are lining up, and it really pushed me to strive to get into cancer research,” she says. With this in mind, she took her first step in the field through her thesis, where she tested the effectiveness of ampalaya capsules in enhancing medicine used to combat colon cancer.

In the summer of 2019, she took a summer internship with the Philippine Genome Center. With the help of two physics majors, she researched cancer-stimulated protein networks and had their work published in the journal Workshop on Computation: Theory and Practice 2019. Looking to the future, Yumi is convinced that the path she is choosing is worthwhile. She plans to finish her master’s degree in chemistry in Ateneo, before taking her PhD in Singapore, which is known for its advanced cancer research facilities. “Medical research, pharmaceutical research, drug development—things like that...That has really [become] my advocacy,” she says. Piecing together the different events that defined her college life, Yumi realized that her love for learning was reinforced in unexpected ways. Finding new passions and going out of her comfort zone allowed her to discover more about who she is and who she aspires to be. “Now, I see myself as less about academics and more about [gaining] experience from everything and trying to find the place I really flourish in,” she says. Yumi’s story has just begun, and her heart brims with excitement about what the future holds: “I really don’t have everything figured out. Going back to all those times where things just happen coincidentally, I take it as a sign. I’m just like everyone else figuring things out along the way.”

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GENUISES FINDING THE BEST MEDICINE

Miguel Dobles BY JOAQUIN A. SANTOS Funny business is something we’re often told to cut out when things get serious, even more so when the stakes are high. Doctors, for example, are probably among the last people we’d want to engage in it. But for Miguel Dobles (4 BS LfSci), program awardee for the Life Sciences course, co-founder of Blue Bird Improv, and an aspiring doctor graduating summa cum laude, his special brand of funny business might just be worth an exception. Duality Dobs is a performer at heart. He first discovered theater in high school, and went on to become a member of Ateneo Blue Repertory throughout college. In his second year, he and his cousin Rafa Chua started a vibrant new comedy scene in Ateneo, which eventually turned into Blue Bird Improv. He also led the Talksand-Tours Core of the 2019 Freshman Orientation Seminar, and while this wasn’t a performance in the formal sense, welcoming thousands of nervous freshman must be an art in its own right. Underpinning all of these adventures is a special sense for making connections—a skill he learned from his family from a young age. “It’s all about people, you know? It’s about the audience, about you, and the people with you on stage,” he says. But this appreciation for the performing arts actually came later in life. Raised on dreams of becoming an astronaut and a zookeeper, Dobs’ first love was the sciences. It’s a fascination that has only grown throughout the years and become inseparable from his vision for the future. As he got older, he nourished this in concert with learning to treasure connections with people through the arts.

When the time came to set a course for his future, becoming a doctor was the path that allowed both sides of his identity to flourish. “When people hear the phrase ‘perform surgery,’ it’s usually just a verb. But then I thought ‘Hey, there’s [actually] an art to it.’ Medicine is also an art, not just a science,” says Dobs. Scenes from a hat Although he set his sights on a career in medicine, Dobs made it a point to continue doing things his way. The disciplines he would develop in class offered a tried-and-tested route to medical school, and with that in place, he had some room to, well, improvise. The beginnings of the Blue Bird Improv group trace back to Dobs’ high school days, when he and Rafa became big fans of the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway (1998). After trying their hand at slam poetry and improvised songwriting, they jumped into a workshop at the Manila Improv Festival in 2015. “We didn’t even know it was a thing” Dobs adds with a laugh. “We were just some kids but, well, what the heck? We stuck with it.” What began as an alien concept to the Ateneo community found roots in a moderator and a group of curious students and, by 2019, grew into a full-fledged org. On the surface, improv appears to be a foil to the technicalities of medicine, but the form offers a glimpse into the consonance of art and science. “People just think it’s unstructured, but it’s actually not,” he points out. “I like to compare it to dance. You can learn the skills even if you had two left feet at the start. If you practice, you can do it, no matter what kind of person you are.” Under his leadership, Blue Bird Improv has explored its potential to entertain and educate. In October 2019, the group staged Wet and Wildlife, a show dedicated to raising environmental awareness. Recently, they’ve

also ventured into consultancy work for the school’s student organizations, using improv skills to drive organizational development. Because of its unique mix of creative performance and structure, Dobs embraces the form as a very personal expression of his own love for both art and science. “I just feel like I am myself, you know? I’m doing what I want to do and what I have to do,” he shares. Dobs’ experience in Ateneo has challenged him to excel on the fly. Despite being thrust in between two passions, both equally demanding and rewarding in their own right, he couldn’t feel more at home. “I can tell you that the past four years were truly my own and not because of the med school that is to follow...I enjoyed it for what it is and not what it’s supposed to become,” he says. Simply put, Dobs is studying life in books, labs, and experiences, and he’s having a lot of fun along the way, too. How much of it is by design and how much by good timing and a little luck? We’ll never know. The beauty of it is that Dobs has become so good at improvising that we can’t tell the difference.

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GENUISES WHEN PASSION MEETS TALENT

Robyn Dy BY JYRA ZOE T. ANG ENTERING LIFE after Ateneo, students often aspire to unite passion and career. Yet in most cases, discovering what these passions are and finding avenues for these to flourish often proves to be a difficult, or even unexpected, hurdle. Graduating summa cum laude, Political Science Program Awardee Robyn Dy (AB POS, Minor in Korean Studies) shows that finding direction can start with answering the question: What makes you curious about the world? Finding a place on the map “When I was younger, my dad would watch the evening news every night without fail. I remember sitting with him and slowly realizing that there was a much bigger world out there that changes every day,” shares Robyn. Fast forward to the end of college—she has set herself up for a career dedicated to understanding and improving the same world that lit her up with questions. However, that transition was far from smooth sailing; rather, it was the product of a brave decision and a lot of openness. Coming from a Filipino-Chinese family, Robyn faced certain expectations of what her college experience should be. Despite the pressure to go into a business course, she has always believed in pursuing what she enjoys learning. After years of Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) classes, burying herself in countless issues of Time Magazine, and all those nights watching the evening news with her father, her heart was set on pursuing a career in political science despite it not fitting the mold prescribed to her. This only intensified as she was exposed to new perspectives in Ateneo, but it was the special emphasis her course placed on real-life application that convinced her she was in the right place.“That’s something I really enjoyed because they synthesize ev-

erything and make it relevant to today’s context,” she says. Since then, Robyn has taken every opportunity to actualize her learnings. In her junior year, she was a policy and legislation intern in the Office of Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV (OSBA), where she saw the theories in her classes come to life. “I attended a lot of Senate hearings on behalf of OSBA...interviewing resource persons on various issues like the legalization of medical marijuana and the lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility,” she says. Now, she is interested in involving government work in her future career: “I feel really lucky to have had that opportunity to witness Senator Bam’s inspiring brand of servant leadership...It pushed me to consider pursuing a career in government and continue the important work they’ve started.” Going global Despite being immersed in the local context, Robyn wanted to push the boundaries of her knowledge and do something on a global level, like international studies. Just as she took a leap in choosing to study political science, she made the bold decision to take her junior term abroad alone in South Korea. Her school, Seoul National University (SNU), did not offer any undergraduate political science classes in English. Instead, she took her electives at the Graduate School of Public Administration. Although she found it intimidating at first, Robyn grew to relish the experience and ended up thriving in this diverse environment. As a result, she added a global perspective to her local expertise.

Her experience in Korea was elevated by the opportunity to learn the language through SNU’s Language Program. “It was collectively 200 hours [of Korean]. I didn’t realize it was that intense until I started it,” she says. However, Robyn was determined to do her best while she still could. After her term abroad, she finished her minor in Korean Studies in Ateneo as part of her vision of doing work on a global level. Despite building such a diverse skill set, Robyn stays rooted in the discipline of her course and her curiosity for the world. “After four years as a political science major...my interest has only grown and intensified,” she says. “I always struggle to explain exactly why current events interest me, but it just energizes me to know that there’s a story behind everything that’s going on in the world right now, and it’s out there for me to figure out.” In the years to come, Robyn has her sights set on a career in international relations, driven by the same sense of wonder she has always had. By staying faithful to what she loves and taking opportunities to let it flourish, Robyn exemplifies that passion can push you out of your comfort zone and lead you to be part of something bigger than yourself.

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GENUISES EXPLORING THE UNCHARTED

Lianna Lofranco BY TIFFANY LAO LIANNA LOFRANCO (5 BS AMF and AB EC - Honors) was born and raised in Tacloban City as the youngest of seven. In a big family, her older siblings, many of whom are building successful careers in different fields, became sources of guidance and support. “All of us went to Philippine Science High School, Leyte, and went to [the University of the Philippines] or Ateneo [for college]. A lot of my siblings were dean’s listers so it sort of became an unspoken requirement,” Lianna jokes. At the end of her five-year stay in Ateneo, it’s safe to say she has done much more than meet requirements. Aside from graduating magna cum laude and claiming the title of program awardee for the Applied Mathematics with Specialization in Mathematical Finance course, Lianna also has a minor in Finance and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 accreditation in tow.

“Being away from my family was difficult at first, but the experience allowed me to become more independent,” she says. Navigating new territory soon became something she relished as a chance for her talents to thrive, and Ateneo presented plenty of space yet to be explored. In college, Lianna set her sights on joining the Junior Term Abroad (JTA) program, attracted by the prospect of learning and adapting to a new environment. But months before she left, she already found herself in uncharted waters. When she was applying for JTA, she was told that her course’s curriculum wasn’t fit for the program and that she might risk delaying her graduation. Lianna had to print all the subjects from each school she was applying for to see if her program director could credit them.

As is often the case with a difficult act to follow, let alone seven of them, the pressure to perform can be a complex burden to manage. But in Lianna’s case, the only pressure she feels is what she has placed on herself and learned to embrace. The result? She blazed a trail of her own.

These efforts paid off when Lianna was given the go signal to apply for JTA. After a semester at the Université Catholique de Lille in France, where she studied Business/Managerial Economics, she took home a deep appreciation for new possibilities: “It really changed my outlook. I got to know people of different nationalities and saw that there’s really a bigger world out there.”

Pursuing new experiences Adjusting to new surroundings has become a common theme in Lianna’s life. After Typhoon Yolanda hit in 2013, Lianna’s family and many of her friends endured the process of rebuilding their community. She later lived away from home to attend high school before moving to Metro Manila for college, where she lived with five of her working siblings. Despite having to cope with so much change, Lianna credits these times for teaching her to be confident in her own path and cultivating her drive for excellence.

Lianna’s hunger for new experiences inspired her to challenge herself in different fields. She took her first internship in 2018 in Elite Realty PH’s marketing department. While there, she got to dabble in programming and financial modeling in Elite’s sister company FTI Consulting. In 2019, she interned in the Development Bank of the Philippines-Daiwa Capital Markets, allowing her to learn more about equity research. “I was able to apply the lessons I learned in

AMF. I found it cool that it was helpful in the outside world,” she says. Her interest in finance led her to represent the school in competitions. In 2018, Lianna was a national finalist for the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge and finished second in the 20th Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition. During her final year in Ateneo, her team was crowned 2020 CFA Institute Research Challenge National Champion. More than numbers Moving forward, Lianna hopes to find a flexible job that will allow her to explore new learnings. Though she leaves Ateneo as someone highly decorated in her field, she continues to search for opportunities that can expose her to new ways her work can have meaning. One area she has developed an interest in recently is social development, as it would allow her to work on projects that benefit communities. It’s a cause that hits home for her, anchored in memories of recovering from the typhoon and participating in feeding programs. “I want to be able to create a change so I don’t really want to restrict my choices [purely] to finance or economics,” she says. Lianna ends her college journey with a full heart, having made the most of the opportunities she was given. She dreams of being able to touch lives with what she has learned and gain memorable experiences along the way, wherever the journey takes her.

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GENUISES MOMENT TO MOMENT

Lucia Lorenzo BY JYRA ZOE T. ANG & JOAQUIN A. SANTOS College catches us in a grand rush to do many things—from meeting expectations to setting up a promising future, whatever that means. Management Engineering Program Awardee Lucia Lorenzo (4 BS ME, Minor in Finance), graduating magna cum laude, is certainly no exception. As a member of the Ateneo Softball Team and an accomplished participant in numerous business case competitions, the rush is especially hectic.

distracted because I know I’ll get to everything eventually,” she explains.

Lucia slaloms through crowded hallways, fixated on taking the fastest route, and always heading somewhere. She speaks quickly, drives fast, and rarely embellishes. The short glimpses you’d catch of her likely reveal someone consumed by the rat race, but her awareness of the big picture and knack for finding inspiration say otherwise.

From the first time she picked up a bat at age five, softball has become inseparable from her identity, thanks in no small part to the depth of thought that goes into every play. “I love finding patterns in the game, studying every possible scenario and reaction... when I’m playing, I’m all there,” she says.

Made to measure For Lucia, navigating each day begins with lists and schedules—plenty of them. “Everything is planned out in my life,” she says, and with good reason. Between softball training early in the morning, classes, and case competition training at night, time is a luxury that cannot be wasted. On the heaviest days, she lives in 30-minute intervals, picking off items on a long to-do list one by one. Yet instead of rushing her, keeping this perspective lets her appreciate the value of each task even more. “Starting out with small, easy things, then [moving] on to difficult ones makes everything feel connected. It feels like I’m making progress every day,” adds Lucia. At the base of all this precision is a deep understanding that everything has its proper time and place. “If I think about everything I have to do all at once, of course it’ll look really bad...but I don’t freeze or get

Besides setting the pace needed to give everything its due, this special attention to detail gives Lucia an extra measure of control over the direction of her life. As the third of eight siblings, she has never lacked an incentive to stand out, and taking this approach to heart is what allows her passions and personality to flourish.

Lucia has found similar fulfillment in the complexities of business research and strategy, both of which are fields she aspires to build a successful career in. Under her leadership, Ateneo finished runner-up in the 2019 International Institute for Business Development Case Competition and was crowned National Champion of the 2020 Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Research Challenge. Roadmaps Despite the amount of thought that goes into her decisions, Lucia is no stranger to uncertainty and doubt. “If I’m not in a good place, I look at people who have done it and what they did to get there. After that, it comes down to finding a way that fits who I am,” Lucia remarks. Whether it’s in preparing for a tough class or taking on the rigors of training, being mindful not to stay set in her ways has been crucial to hit the heights she has reached.

Continuing to learn from such a broad collection of experiences helps her thrive on her own terms. Part of that collection is very close to home, as her family has been a constant source of support and advice for life in and out of Ateneo. “We all try to come up with good ideas to help each other out or refer people who know their stuff,” she explains. Lucia also takes inspiration from plenty of reading, and her most meaningful lessons come from books that immerse her into unfamiliar territory. “Learning about other people’s lives, especially those different from mine, kind of puts my own in its proper context, you know? It helps me see what’s possible,” says Lucia. At the very least, these experiences help manage her own expectations. Sometimes, they provide a blueprint she can make her own. Other times, they encourage her to explore. Whatever the case may be, life will continue to be hectic and Lucia will continue to pack her schedule with things she loves to do. But because she gives every commitment the effort it deserves, she is completely herself whether you catch her weaving through a hallway, strike up a passing conversation with her, or sit in traffic with her for hours. Instead of rushing, she simply keeps moving. Instead of going through the motions, every action is purposeful.

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GENUISES THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Tara Oppen BY JYRA ZOE T. ANG “[BEING A director is] having a vision and executing it,” Teresa Oppen (4 BFA TA), who is better known as Tara, says. “You should be able to understand the story of everyone on stage and bring that to life.” A recipient of the Loyola School Awards for the Arts for Theatre Arts (Directing), the Program Awardee for Theatre Arts, and a graduate with magna cum laude standing, this performer-turned-director proves that genius comes in different shapes and forms. Running the show Inspired by the passion and hope in Les Misérables, Tara has been pursuing theatre since high school, eventually becoming the president of their drama club. Despite the trivial notion that there is no money in art, Tara’s passions and talents urged her to take up BFA Theatre Arts in Ateneo. Tara was certain her passion lied in theatre, but her sophomore year of college brought another important choice for her to make. Choosing to train as either a director or performer was, in many ways, an act of defining who she was.“It’s like asking me to choose between eating and sleeping; I really can’t live without either,” she says. Though difficult, it was also the type of dilemma that sparked reflection. Recognizing her special ability to empathize with others and communicate different perspectives pushed her to dedicate herself to directing. “I love looking at different sides of the story and I love understanding people even if I don’t initially get what they are trying to say or I don’t agree with what they have [said],” she says. “[My mentors] were saying, ‘You have a high empathy capacity [and] that’s not weakness—that’s your strength.’” Soon after, she started training as an assistant director for various plays such

as Alpha Kappa Omega (2019) and Marisol (2018), both under Tanghalang Ateneo. She was also one of the five theatre arts majors sent to represent Ateneo in the 2019 Asia-Pacific Bureau Vietnam Theater Festival, wherein Tara and her teammates performed a self-written and self-directed play entitled A Woman’s Place. Expressing prevalent struggles of being a woman, such as the anxiety of a possible pregnancy or the unease of being molested on the streets, the play’s story of a woman’s fears and burdens in Philippine urban society mirrors her inspiration for her undergraduate thesis production: Antigone vs. the People of the Philippines (2019). The sold-out production is an adaptation of the Greek tragedy Antigone, and is staged as both an experience of injustices faced in today’s Philippine society and a challenge to take action. Here, Tara shows where her true genius lies: Not only empathizing with each character she directs on stage, but also instilling that same capacity for empathy in her audience. Rising to the challenge While developing the adaptation, Tara put herself in Antigone’s situation. “When you’re from Ateneo, when you try to help people, they always say ‘You’re privileged. You don’t understand what people go through, so how can you help us?’ And that’s where I got the main drive for how I staged Antigone,” she continues. “It’s an earnest longing to help, to understand the plight even if you never will.” Beyond engaging audiences with different realities, she also uses her art to contribute to a greater ideal. Tara continued to push boundaries by adapting forum theatre, a style that allows the audience to decide Antigone’s fate. “The point of that kind of theatre [is]

to have people exercise their rights as citizens inside the play, rather than just being a spectator to what is happening. And that’s what we want citizens to eventually be, right? We want them to be proactive and change. We do not want them to just sit idly by while things change.” However, her ambition came with a price. With 24 drafts of the script, Tara and her writer made many edits and adjustments, but that was only half the battle. With two different casts of mostly novice actors, Tara began the painstaking process of rehearsing the three possible endings and making revisions along the way. In spite of the challenges that come with directing a show, Tara continues to see theatre as her future career. “No matter what theatre throws at me, I can survive it, and I still love it. No matter how much pain it can bring, it still brings me joy,” she says. Tara sees how theatre has the potential to bring light to the unseen injustices in the world and present unexplored viewpoints, just as she presented in Antigone vs. the People of the Philippines. As her time in Ateneo comes to a close, Tara is more committed than ever to realizing this potential in her future work.

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Athletes 34

Raegan Gavino Open waters ahead

Javi Macasaet Betting above the average

BJ Imperial Ice in his veins

Pao Reganit All hands on deck

Jia Kawachi Above the line

Joella De Vera In full swing

ATHLETES OPEN WATERS AHEAD

Raegan Gavino BY JOAQUIN A. SANTOS AROUND TWO decades ago, a splash echoed throughout the Gavino household—a signal that a member of the family had reached the ripe old age of two. It was Raegan’s turn to swim, and instead of dipping her toes, she flew in. “We were always water babies,” she says. “Our parents would throw us in and have us float by ourselves.” While that seems like a harsh introduction to the water, her story is proof that she held her breath long enough to find a home in it. At the end of her time in Ateneo, Raegan Gavino (5 AB IS) is graduating cum laude and is the Program Awardee for Interdisciplinary Studies. She also leaves behind an illustrious career for the Blue and White—one that is defined by her leadership just as much as the hardware she brought home. In her own lane Raegan is the eldest of four siblings, all of whom had their turn making a splash. But the water that ties them together has also allowed each of them to find their own lanes on opposite sides of the world. Her younger sister swims competitively for the University of New Mexico, her younger brother swam until college, and her youngest brother competes in high school in the United States. Raegan lives apart from her entire family for most of the year, but it is a challenge they bear together. Christmases and summers are dedicated to quality time, but when the season starts, she turns their distance into fuel. “As much as I miss them, at the same time, I’m happy that it’s just me,” she jokes. Recognizing that each of them has a unique experience has allowed her to swim loose—free from unnecessary comparison and sibling rivalry—and the competition has had to bear the brunt of that.

Over a five-year career, Raegan has four championships to her name, the last of which secured a three-peat for the Ateneo Women’s Swimming Team. Graduating as Team Captain and a decorated butterfly and medley specialist, she leaves behind a legacy of excellence few athletes can match. Second family While Raegan’s family does their best to support her, the success she has enjoyed in the pool is also the product of her deep bond with the FAST Ateneo Swim Team. In both the men’s and women’s teams she has found a second family, a term which she says has a special meaning. “This year was different because it’s my last, but it’s special because it’s my last with the people I grew up with,” shares Raegan. After becoming her closest confidants and favorite companions, her teammates have given her invaluable inspiration and a chance to set a culture that puts everyone in the best position to succeed. Raegan understands the importance of being counted on and being able to count on others, especially when the demands of balancing school and swimming weigh heavy. “It helps to have teammates who inspire you. Even if most of them are lowerclassmen, I’ve never not looked to them for inspiration,” she says. Because she holds them in such high regard, she is committed to challenging her teammates to demand more of themselves. For Raegan, excellence was not just reserved for competition but a consistent pursuit. “It’s useless for you to work so hard in one thing, but you’re not going to carry over that discipline anywhere else,” she explains. As a result of this mindset, the women’s swimming team handles

business both in the pool and in the classroom, consistently posting one of the highest grade averages among varsity teams. “Given that I’m trying to be the best I can be, I can only hope that my team will try to become the best versions of themselves,” she says. That’s the legacy Raegan leaves behind: Dedication to improving in and out of the pool in a way that lines up with who you are. Staying faithful to these principles and instilling them in those around her has contributed to an immensely fulfilling experience over the years. “To be a part of the success of my team—this is the perfect way to end it. I wouldn’t have asked for anything else,” she says. As her swimming career winds down to a close, Raegan faces a world full of uncertainty and possibility. Teaching children and coaching swimming, both of which are passions she has carried from a young age, are paths she would like to explore. Regardless of where she chooses to go, she finds herself, as she did around two decades ago, in midair once again.

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But swimming is always going to be a part of her identity, so trust that she will learn how to do much more than float.

ATHLETES ICE IN HIS VEINS

BJ Imperial BY KIRBY G. JALANDONI BJ IMPERIAL (4 BS ME) didn’t grow up playing basketball on his village courts like most Filipino kids. He wasn’t one to spend his weekends on the soccer field, nor did he swim or hit the badminton court like many others. Instead, at age 13, he began to play ice hockey—which was still an informal sport in the Philippines when BJ began playing.

roots came from his days playing on gravel roads using rollerblades with his cousins.

It isn’t a surprise that ice hockey in the country was still in its nascent stages as early as eight years ago. After all, a tropical country like the Philippines isn’t exactly known for its excellence in the world’s most popular winter sport. Back in 2012, the entire community consisted of less than 40 people.

When BJ moved to Metro Manila for high school, he was finally able to hone his skills on the ice because there were two rinks in the area. The transition from street to ice was seamless. “Since I started off with rollerblades and a stick and ball, I didn’t have a hard time with coordination and moving my feet while handling [the puck].”

Nowadays, that number is in the hundreds. The Federation of Ice Hockey League, the local governing body of the sport, is now recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The men’s team, which used to be a makeshift team of players who simply knew how to play, is now a competitive pool of 40 to 50 players vying for a spot in one of the region’s best ice hockey squads. The sport’s rapid growth in the country would have been impossible without BJ—one of the key cogs in the program since the squad’s first tournament. All it took for BJ to begin playing the seldom seen sport came from two not-so-seldom sources of inspiration: Movies and family. Humble beginnings BJ first fell in love with the sport after watching The Mighty Ducks (1992), a Disney comedy film about a youth league hockey team. However, BJ couldn’t begin playing the sport as a kid because there were no rinks in Bicol, where he grew up. Instead, BJ’s hockey

“We had this driveway in front of our house and [my cousins] started playing street hockey there,” BJ recounts. “When I was around five years old, I asked if I could join them.”

By 2017, he was one of the more experienced players in the country’s small ice hockey community. As such, when the official national teams were formed, BJ was named as one of the inaugural members of the Philippines Men’s Ice Hockey Team for their debut in the 2017 Asian Winter Games. For flag and country The team’s first-international match came against Kyrgyzstan—an Asian ice hockey juggernaut. Right from the get-go, the difference in competition was staggering. The physicality of the Kyrgyzstani players, some of whom played semi-pro in Russia, was no match for BJ and his fellow debutant teammates. “We weren’t really used to playing this international level of hockey where every time someone holds the puck, [the opponents] are out there to hit you,” BJ narrates. “We were just falling all over the ice.” The Philippines was down 0-5 by the end of the first period. Undaunted, the team fought back, bring-

ing the score to as close as 5-7. The comeback was sparked by BJ, who made history as the scorer of the Philippines Men’s Ice Hockey Team’s first-ever goal. The team eventually lost the match 5-10, but proceeded to win the rest of their games en route to a bronze-medal finish. BJ’s experience in his debut tournament proved to be the stepping stone for future success. By 2020, he had already won multiple medals in various tournaments, highlighted by the instrumental roles he played in the team’s 2017 and 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games triumphs. Amidst all these tournaments, BJ still had to manage his responsibilities as a management engineering student. Navigating the course as a national team athlete was taxing, to say the least. During tournament season, he would train from Sunday to Thursday all the way in Pasay City and often arrive home past 1:00 AM. Because of this demanding schedule, he missed out on many college activities and had less time to study than the typical student. Even so, BJ holds no regrets, understanding the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the country playing the sport he loves. “There were so many times I could have backed out of a tournament like the SEA Games to work, let’s say, on [thesis],” he says. “But for me, I knew which was more worth it. There’s no space to be regretting things.”

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ATHLETES ABOVE THE LINE

Jia Kawachi BY ALITHEA C. SORIANO WHETHER SHE is on the mats or out on the field, Jia Kawachi (4 BS MGT) is a force to be reckoned with. The gymnast-turned-track-star vaulted her way through the ranks of a sport she was unfamiliar with, and quickly found herself on top.

so much to learn and work on still,” she says. “I was also thinking about [joining the Blue Babble Battalion] because of my gymnastics background, but I didn’t push through with it because I wanted a sport that I hadn’t tried before.”

The dismount Long before her celebrated gold finish in the Women’s Pole Vault of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81, Jia was a highly competitive gymnast throughout her grade school and high school years. Not only did she bag medals in local and international competitions, but she also joined Miriam College Grade School and High School’s pep squads.

In a “spur of the moment decision,” Jia found herself trying out for track and field, and the stars finally aligned. Not only did she secure a spot in the team, but she also joined an athletic event that would still make use of her gymnastic abilities: The pole vault.

The former gymnast was at the top of her game, and many had expected her to pursue gymnastics in college. However, Jia had other plans. Despite her love for the sport, Jia had decided to retire from gymnastics right before graduating from high school. “I retired basically because of politics within the sport. Besides this, I was also getting taller and I [had] reached my peak age,” she explains. As someone who has been a student-athlete her entire life, Jia had felt uneasy with her retirement. But, eventually, she managed to transform her restlessness into determination, just in time for college. Her new mission? To find her way back to the athletic scene. In her freshman year, Jia already had the necessary skills, attitudes, and background to pursue her goal—all she needed was a sport. Jia had considered volleyball and cheerleading in her initial pursuit, but both sports did not seem fit for her. “After [a volleyball] clinic, the coach invited me to try out, but I didn’t make the team because I had

Leaps and bounds After finding the right sport, Jia faced a rough adjustment period that challenged her mentally and physically. “I struggled the most during my freshman year. Transitioning into a new sport was tough and required double the amount of effort,” she shares. In those moments of struggle, the pole vault star would go back to her “why”—to the reason she chose to dedicate her college years to track and field: “I really gravitated towards track and field because of the coaches and team members...Quitting was never an option for me because of the people who were always by my side to support me.” This invaluable support system pushed Jia to find her rhythm. Though she showed dramatic personal improvement, Jia had consistently placed 4th in her first two UAAP seasons. This is no easy feat by any means, but having a medal standing just out of arms’ reach only pushed the athlete to work even harder. She finally reaped the benefits of her training in her third year when she clinched the gold medal for a 3.20m vault in UAAP Season 81. To top it off, Jia beat her personal best score and was only 0.20m away from breaking the current UAAP Women’s Pole Vault

record. In the same year, she traveled to Cebu for the Philippine National Games and ranked second among the country’s national team athletes. With her undergraduate career coming to a stellar end despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Jia looks back at her experience as an Atenean athlete with love, and encourages the next batch of student-athletes to take heart and play with passion. “Although it may seem tough to be able to balance both academics and training, it is not impossible especially if you have the community of athletes there to support you every step of the way,” she says. “You will get to learn a lot about yourself and at the same time build special relationships with your peers. Always remember to take pride in wearing the Blue and White.” After four years of track and field, the gold medalist faces yet another athletic dilemma, just as she did in her senior year of high school: Will she continue to pursue track and field or retire her pole altogether? Though nothing is certain, Jia hints that this may not be the last time she will step out on the field. One thing is for sure: Whether it’s with a pole or under the banner of a new athletic pursuit altogether, Jia is an athlete to watch out for.

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ATHLETES BETTING ABOVE THE AVERAGE

Javi Macasaet BY MIGUEL G. POLICARPIO FOR THE Ateneo Men’s Baseball Team Captain and longtime third baseman Javi Macasaet (5 AB MEc), the sun has finally set on a journey that turned his childhood dream of donning the blue and white for Ateneo into a reality.

Following Paulo’s footsteps, Javi has seen to it that he leaves behind a similar legacy of hard work and consistency for all his teammates by leading through example both on and off the field.

form and mechanics; this principle of practice and preparation has served him well in academics, with an Honorable Mention award waiting for him after five years as a student-athlete.

“It’s all been such a humbling experience,” laments Javi, who comes from a long line of blue-blooded Ateneans. True enough, with a five-year collegiate career that included a University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championship, an invitation to the Philippine national team, and sharing the field with his older brother Paulo, Javi’s life so far has definitely revolved around the pitch.

The big league Fresh off a prolific high school baseball career, Javi finally found himself on a bigger stage, moving up to the Ateneo Men’s Baseball Team in 2015. His second UAAP playing year saw the Katipunan squad finally hit paydirt, despite being labeled as underdogs right off the bat. The Blue Eagles took home the Season 79 UAAP Baseball Championship in 2017, a memory that Javi says he will cherish forever.

Aside from this, Javi has also taken his talents past the classroom and into international case competitions by joining the renowned Pricewaterhouse-Coopers and the Institute for International Business Development’s Case Competitions held last year. With the help of Ateneo’s professors and a talented team, Javi strutted his stuff on the field of finance, marketing, and leadership and strategy this time around.

However, alongside his athletic repertoire is an equally impressive academic resume to boot. From slugging fastball pitches deep into Rizal Memorial Stadium’s outfield to delivering snappy business pitches in international case competitions, Javi’s unique tenure in the Ateneo has indeed been colorful.

While the Blue Eagles came up short in the next two seasons, Javi saw his role in the team and his own mentality improve dynamically: “I felt that I had to take on greater responsibility in the team, and in my academics. I had to be aware that I was setting an example.”

Field of dreams With over 15 years of his life spent playing baseball, Javi was quick to attribute his love of the pitch to the tight-knit baseball community that welcomed him as a youngster: “Everyone knew everyone, so all my friends were there, and I really loved the game. It’s hard to find those two things in one place, and I found that in baseball.” Javi’s early baseball career was sustained by that deep connection with friends. He grew up playing against the same opponents, with the same teammates and coaches, all of whom soon became family to him.

Javi’s baseball career recently came full circle when he was given the honor of representing the Philippines in baseball in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. “It was just like playing with your older brothers,” recalls Javi, who finally shared the field with his former coaches who raised him in the ways of the sport. The familial bonds of Philippine baseball were on full display at the SEA Games, paving the way for a dominant gold-medal finish for Javi and the Philippine baseball delegation.

Aside from his friends and coaches, Javi drew the most inspiration from his brother and former Ateneo pitcher, Paulo, who to him was “the hardest worker around.”.

The next inning As a soon-to-be management economics graduate, Javi transitioned smoothly between the field and classroom, bringing the same vigor and passion in training for baseball to his academics. As the Captain himself said, baseball is a game of repetition and of mastering

With his college career now in its twilight, Javi is already gearing up for life after baseball. In line with his first-hand experience on the field, Javi aims to enter the corporate world of finance, with his long-term goal of starting his own business. When asked to impart some wisdom for the graduating class, this is what the Captain had to say: “Take as many risks as possible, and never be afraid to jump into new things.” With a combined baseball and academic career that has taken him to such impeccable heights, this could not be any more true for Javi.

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ATHLETES ALL HANDS ON DECK

Pao Reganit BY APA D. AQUINO AFTER A lengthy career playing football for the Ateneo in grade school up until high school, Pao Reganit (4 BS ITE) made a fortunate stroke of serendipity by being accepted into the Ateneo Rowing Team (ART) at the tail end of his freshman year of college. Now the Ateneo Rowing Team’s Captain, Pao has competed in prestigious international rowing competitions and garnered multiple accolades in just over three years of competitive rowing. A potential for stardom Early on in Pao’s newfound career, his coach saw him as a powerful contender for a spot in the national team, which motivated Pao to row and grow more. As the only rookie in the boat, Pao reached the repechage of the 2017 Malaysian Varsity Boat Race (VBR), which clarified his goals and cemented his foundation for grander achievements. “When I was starting out my goal was to just be a good team player,” he says. “I always made sure I would level or even try to surpass the effort my boatmates [gave].” In just the next year, Pao placed himself well within the ranks of the country’s most elite rowers and represented the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Rowing Coastal Championships in Hong Kong. Afterwards, his aquatic stint escalated in his junior year after he earned silver in the Men’s Coxed Four of the 2019 Chinese University of Hong Kong Rowing Championships. Taking the helm While his love for rowing deepened, his passion and ambitions also continued to overflow. In his senior year, the true blue rower steered the helm of the ART as Team Captain, taking on the challenge of uplifting others to join the boats. Upholding the mindset of growing together, building a family, and bringing each

other up, his leadership style became the driving force of his team.

have held interest since I was a kid, this is what I want to [do].”

“As Captain in my senior year, my goal was to make sure that I would develop the skills and make sure that the team next year would have the same level of passion I had towards rowing,” he says. “ I wanted to leave a culture that [encourages the team to care] about each other, on and off the boat. Basically, a family; whether we win or lose, we have each other.”

However, rowing will remain a part of Pao’s life and will continue to shape his future ambitions through the invaluable life lessons that he has taken to heart from the sport. While the rowing scene in the country remains weakly supported, the decorated rowing athlete plans on returning to the sport and sharing what he has learned—hopefully through a position in the Philippine Rowing Association.

Of course, his run as Team Captain was met with its fair share of challenges. As most of last year’s team was composed of seniors, Pao took on the unnerving task of rebuilding. Instead of the previous recruitment method of inviting only former athletes, Pao revamped the system to welcome all students, even those from graduate schools. As he also shouldered the responsibility of training the current pool of new members in the past year, Pao went through an arduous journey as a leader. However, his efforts came to fruition when his team achieved something they had never done before: Reach the finals for all their events in the Malaysian VBR. The next flight plan Looking back, Pao is tremendously proud of his team and treasures the role that had been given to him as Captain—his position drove him to perform for his teammates and not for himself. These values carry on to his pursuits out of the boats and after college as he dreams of becoming captain not of a team, but of an airplane’s flight crew. “Becoming a pilot is also one of my dreams [because] I realized [that it] connects with [the rest of] my life,” he says. “When you’re flying a plane, you take care of people, you hold their lives, and as something that I

“I know that the sport is really undersupported, and I hope to give back after some time because it helped me build my character,” he declares. “My love for the sport will always be there.

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ATHLETES IN FULL SWING

Joella De Vera BY APA D. AQUINO & MIGUEL G. POLICARPIO AS THE curtains close on an illustrious collegiate career for women’s badminton stalwart Joella De Vera (5 BFA ID), one can truly say that her life so far has centered around the hardcourt. With two University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championships and a national team invitation under her belt, Geva, as she is known to friends and family, leaves Ateneo with a winning legacy. Geva’s humble beginnings in badminton came to life on the courts and badminton halls of San Pablo, Laguna, where her father founded and managed a badminton club for young athletes. As an early recruit of the budding badminton team, she would make a name for herself from the get-go, parlaying tough performances over the years against rival clubs and building her reputation as a prized recruit. After earning her keep in the badminton leagues, Geva found her way to the Ateneo, becoming another key weapon in a stacked Lady Shuttlers roster that has continually reached the upper echelon of the UAAP in recent history. The incoming information design graduate also packed an impressive international playing record, making her one of the country’s young guns in the field of badminton. A dynamic duo Perhaps the most pivotal point in Geva’s UAAP career came in her partnership with now two-time Co-Most Valuable Player Chanelle Lunod. Both singles players until Season 81, De Vera and Lunod initially didn’t have many expectations in terms of their game when Coach Kennie Robles-Asuncsion teamed them up for a doubles match back in Season 80. Despite going against a National University duo, one of whom happened to be part of the national team, the first-time partners dominated the match and won in straight sets. “Next

year, our coach paired us, and we would never be separated,” Geva adds. Together with Chanelle, Geva would boast an almost flawless doubles stint with her only loss coming from a close and fierce match against De La Salle University. Still, the Blue and White tandem were a force to be reckoned with in the UAAP, and even the Philippine Badminton community as the two would later be selected to represent the country in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The international stage The recent SEA Games, which were held in the Philippines, gave Geva a whole new perspective on her badminton experience thus far. “I was overwhelmed by everyone who cheered and watched since you don’t get that kind of experience every day,” she mentioned. “You’re not only representing yourself anymore or the school, but the whole country especially since we were in home court, so you really want to make Filipinos proud.” Despite receiving uplifting sentiments from her fellow countrymen during that time, the Lady Shuttler faced acrimonious responses to her performance with Chanelle in the recent 2020 Badminton Asia Team Championships in Manila. Unlike the SEA games, the Badminton Asia Championships saw online crowds bashing the duo which only goes to show the immense pressures Geva and other international athletes experience. Through it all, she remained unphased and even feels grateful for all the opportunities for her to play on the international stage. Life after Ateneo As Geva begins her descent from the hill, she is quick to heap gratitude on the Ateneo community for the long years of continued support. “I’ll always go back

to the [Ateneo] community because they opened me up to so many new communities and opportunities,” she mentioned. On the academic aspect of her stay, she is grateful for how she saw the “other side” of being an athlete, which was the equal discipline and efficiency she picked up from her studies. Ateneo, she says, encouraged her to play hard on the court, but also allowed her to learn and hone her interests off it as well. All in all, it was an experience she could never have imagined. It may be the end of her collegiate playing days, but don’t expect the Co-captain to hang up her racket so soon. The decorated veteran looks forward to combining her information design credentials and future national team status one day to uplift the general image of Philippine badminton both at home and overseas: “I’m torn between this [badminton] and wanting to work. If I can find a way to collaborate both the work and sport, I’ll do it.” Despite facing this tough decision, Geva remains steadfast in moving forward, and ultimately, pursuing her love for badminton.

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Joella De Vera Badminton Photos by Bruce Ong

Pao Reganit Rowing Photos courtesy of Pao Reganit

Jia Kawachi Track and Field Photos by Mark Anastacio

Javi Macasaet Baseball Photos by Aldo Santiago and Kelly Veneracion

BJ Imperial Ice Hockey Photos courtesy of Yuka Fikuma

Raegan Gavino Swimming Photos by Marco Ricafort and Pau Singh

Artists & Performers 44

Laean Angeles Songs from the mind, heart, and soul

Aisha Rallonza Prose in practice

Jam Binay Discomfort zone

Miko Reyes Motion capture

Aya Cabauatan An eye for the unexpected

Migs Villaluz From curiosity to persistence

Hikaru Murakami Avant-garde

Alee Young En pointe

ARTISTS & PERFORMERS SONGS FROM THE HEART, MIND, AND SOUL

Calligraphy by David Paddit

Laean Angeles BY ROBERTO A. OROSA THE MUSICAL journey of Laean Angeles (4 AB COM) started earlier in life than it did for most: She knew the tune to Sarah Geronimo’s Forever’s Not Enough (2004) before she could even talk. From then on, music was an integral part of her childhood—and it was only a matter of time before it became a lifelong passion. From humble beginnings At the ripe age of eight, Laean picked up her first baby guitar and wrote songs about puppy love. In these moments, she discovered music as a means of self-expression. “I didn’t even know back then that songwriting was a thing,” she explains. “I just [thought]: ‘Oh, here’s a melody [on] hand, and here are words that I want to see.’”

for her vocal prowess, and the band Snarky Puppy for their out-of-this-world song arrangements. However, to say her music is only as good as that of her idols would be an understatement. More than a tune Laean’s songs are not made for the sake of simply writing or releasing music. For her, creation is a grueling, highly personal process. “I like to critique myself a lot…[Whenever] I’d make a song and look at [its] lyrics, if [it’s] even the slightest bit corny or [something] I’ve said before, I’m going to change it,” she explains.

The tunes about puppy love eventually matured into full-length compositions. Music became Laean’s outlet to understand her emotions. As her songs grew in shape and depth, she realized that she wanted to share her journey with others. In her first year of college, Laean joined the Ateneo Musician’s Pool (AMP) and surrounded herself with a community of musicians. There, she honed her songwriting with the help of others’ perspectives.

Her artistry also shines in each song’s structure. Shifts in keys, distorted timing, and complicated arrangements are all second nature to her. “[It’s] like exploring a different realm, and in that sense, not only do my lyrics tell the story, but so does my music,” Laean adds. This mastery manifests in one of her personal favorites, Manhid (2019). Delving into the insensitivities of a would-be lover, the song is a clear-cut example of her skill. “It was the first song I wrote wherein I explored the different characteristics one chord can bring, just so that the chords themselves would display the feeling of frustration,” she explains.

Laean’s musical projects were given life through the org. Among these was K/L, an acoustic duo inspired by late 2000s rock, with songs that boast catchy vocal progressions. Although this project was short-lived, during her third year in college, she and her friends formed Morobe, a six-piece band dishing out funk, soul, and R&B—they play gigs around the metro to this very day. These all helped Laean further refine her brand of music.

Aside from romance and friendships, Laean manages to incorporate music into another important aspect of her life: Faith. Apart from Morobe and AMP, she is also an active member of her Christian church, Victory Worship. Laean helps write and perform songs for the congregation. This kind of songwriting brings a different kind of fulfillment, as Laean writes to inspire fellow church members, lead them to God, and uplift their spirits.

For the inspirations behind that brand, Laean looks up to H.E.R. for her contemporary R&B style, YEBBA

With AMP, Morobe, and her church, Laean’s musical journey has undoubtedly been multifaceted. However,

in an honest confession, she admits that she hasn’t written songs for quite some time. “[After graduating], I want to just rest for a while and allow myself to do what I really wanna do—which is to eat popcorn,” she says. As much as it is fulfilling for Laean, songwriting can also be draining, especially since she pours her heart into every bit of it. While these periods of rest are important for Laean, casual listenin—to music and the ideas they bring—helps her stay inspired: “That’s when you can explore these things [that] have been buzzing in your mind.” Laean’s mantra then boils down to being patient with oneself and the process: No one becomes a prodigy overnight, and beating yourself up for it would only be counterproductive. “We expect to be the best at our craft, when really we need to go through that experience,” she explains. “We need to go through the simpler things before we become really excellent at everything.” With all the growth and experience that comes with college, Laean has clearly become an artist who owns her craft anywhere—whether she’s sharing her sounds from home, a gig, her church, or any place where music lives.

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS DISCOMFORT ZONE

Jam Binay BY ANNICKA B. KOTEH THEATER IS the extrovert’s art—at least, for those who equate actress to diva. But Jam Binay (5 BFA TA/AB COM) could not be farther from that tired stereotype. Jam, as she’s known on campus and cast lists, has taken the stage for Ateneo Blue Repertory (blueREP), Tanghalang Ateneo (TA), and Ateneo Fine Arts (FA). She has even led the Ateneo theater scene as blueREP’s Artistic Director, a top officer in its 27th Company Core. Yet, Jam is a self-described introvert. While that seems to contradict her craft, the greatest lesson of her journey arguably does too: Jam has gotten better at playing other people by embracing her own person. Second skin Jam fell in love with drama in high school. Her batch produced Miss Saigon (1989), in which she starred as the lovelorn Kim. That experience led her to major in theater, though Jam wasn’t part of any college theater organization at first. Her insecurities got the better of her, so she “chickened out” of blueREP’s required movement piece. “I was like, ‘Oh no, I can’t dance,’ but now I guess it’s about being open to the process also,” Jam says, looking back on her freshman audition. “[But] it’s a big part, not caring about what other people think anymore.” Eventually, classes and workshops from Jam’s course helped build her confidence. She got into blueREP in her sophomore year and has since had her turn in many acclaimed productions. People know Jam Binay as an actress, so they’re surprised that she’s “not into public speaking”—that she’d actually call herself “shy.” But they don’t understand how the medium of theater works for her.

“When I’m on stage and I’m playing someone else, parang that [fear] just goes away,” she explains. “And for me, [theater is] really nice because I get to experience the lives of other people.” By that definition, Jam has lived many lives. She’s been a sweet barista in blueREP’s Stages of Love (2018), the aggrieved girlfriend Mariel in TA’s Alpha Kappa Omega (2019), and most recently, Natalie Goodman: The seemingly “perfect” daughter in blueREP’s 28th season finale Next to Normal (2020). These are just some items on her résumé, which spans girls-next-door to talking dolls and ghosts to women grappling with their inner demons. She also represented Ateneo in the Asia-Pacific Bond of Theater Schools Festival last September 2019 in Vietnam, where Jam and four other Theater Arts majors performed an original devised piece entitled A Woman’s Place. This means that the concept and script were developed during rehearsals. The piece centered on women in private and public spaces— vignettes brought to life by the actresses playing themselves. Changing roles Whether about mental health or subtle sexism, Jam’s performances touch on the drama of daily life. “I like to be a part of shows about everyday problems of people that don’t get talked about,” she says. “I mean, that’s what theater is about—to create an avenue for discussion for things that matter.” The things that matter aren’t always beautiful, nor do characters act in the best ways to confront the worst. Jam has had to get comfortable representing ugly truths, like when she played a temperamental wedding coordinator in her thesis production FLUID (2018). “For

the longest time, I found the need to not look ugly onstage,” she admits. “It hindered my performance kasi the thing I like most about theater is the storytelling, the truth of it. You’re kind of hindering your truth if you’re not giving everything.” And how did Jam learn to give everything for FLUID? “Missy [Maramara] really put me in front of a mirror and said, ‘Make the ugliest faces you can,’” Jam adds with a laugh. When it comes to theater, she has gone out of her comfort zone in more ways than one. Jam hasn’t just acted but has worked on props, sets, and lights. “These were so foreign to me before, but when I started learning about them, it was a lot of fun,” she says. She’s also mentored younger actors by being an assistant director, most notably for blueREP’s RENT (2018) and Fame the Musical (2017). If anything’s clear from her time in Ateneo, it’s that Jam is all about learning. “Most of the time, we’re trying to get it right, and we’re trying to do what worked before,” she says. “But every show is a new show. It’s important to keep it fresh, and we do that by learning from mistakes or exploring new things.” As she plans to balance a day job with theater, Jam’s set to learn even more—the “real world” just better watch out.

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS AN EYE FOR THE UNEXPECTED

Aya Cabauatan BY DEANA P. PAGTALUNAN RENOWNED EDITORIAL photographer Aya Cabauatan (4 BS MGT) lives in the moment. She catches even the most fleeting of memories simply with the click of her camera. Yet this amazing skill wasn’t born out of luck, as Aya was never a stranger to photography. Her father was a hobbyist who taught her the basics as early as grade school—and this was enough to spur her curiosity for the long run. Sunsets to studios Aya’s love for photos—and her knack for natural light— started with an early appreciation for the world around her. In high school, she and her sister would run to a park and have photo shoots of the golden hour right before sunset. Afterward, she would post some shots on her Instagram account, @_positivity, just for fun. Little did she know that she’d gain over 50,000 followers by her sophomore year. It wasn’t long until Aya began freelancing and getting involved with the larger photography community. She met artists from around the world through the internet—they would chat, call, and even edit each other’s photos. Eventually, Aya would be tapped for gigs by complete strangers. These projects have taken her everywhere from a pre-nuptial shoot on Mount Pinatubo to a wedding in Bali. And while Aya is genuinely surprised at how popular her work has gotten, she still grabs these new opportunities to develop her craft. Upon entering Ateneo, Aya found herself taking photos for the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs). The talent and dedication of her fellow CADsters inspired her to grow as an artist. “Back then, having so many followers was the best thing. Now, it’s really not that,” she says. “It’s the community that I was able to meet.”

Now with over seven years of experience, Aya has tried different kinds of photography, with editorial and fashion shoots being her favorites. Beyond Instagram, she has put up her own website to showcase her impressive portfolio. She is currently the in-house photographer for Tropa, a lifestyle store, and Araw, a clothing brand. Other companies and publications that she has worked with include Young STAR, Electric Studio, and Adidas. All these experiences have allowed Aya to develop her own style, which she describes as “hinged strongly on organic elements and natural light, with hints of surrealism and a pronounced emphasis on the often-ignored details.” But Aya remains open to evolution, which comes with every project she takes on. “Before I was more focused on abstracts and colors. Now, I’ve learned to give more emphasis on the clothing—bringing a more commercial and lifestyle aspect to it,” she adds. Back to the basics Amid these achievements in photography, Aya is first and foremost a student who prioritizes her academics. She gets through stressful days and sleepless nights through careful time management. In her senior year, Aya even enlisted in specific classes so that she would only need to be in school twice a week. This schedule helps her walk the careful balance of her studies and photography career. “I think that’s the good thing about being a freelancer. I get to manage my work and accept clients that I really want to work with,” she shares. Aya is also very aware of her limits and tries not to overwork herself. Accepting too many gigs would just keep her from enjoying photography, so one way she rekindles her passion is through traveling. She sees this

as a good excuse to not put as much thought into her photos, which then happen naturally during the trip. In doing so, she rediscovers the adrenaline that comes with photography. It’s as if she’s transported back in time to her first moments behind the camera. Just recently, Aya was able to do exactly that during her Junior Term Abroad (JTA) at Sophia University in Japan. In a country where art is everywhere, her goal was to widen her horizons. Aya managed to do projects with fellow exchange students and even a Japanese florist. They communicated mainly through hand gestures, but she found it refreshing to see how culture and artistry could interact in a single photo. Coming back from JTA, Aya is all the more sure of keeping photography in her life. Whether she works part-time or full-time, she’ll keep using photos to express herself when words fail. “For me, I want to explore more about what I can pursue with photography. It’s just a matter of seeing which path I’ll take with it,” she explains. And regardless of where she goes after college, Aya is definitely in it for the long haul—ready to capture the unexpected.

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS AVANT-GARDE

Hikaru Murakami BY BENJIE BERNAL THOUGH SHARING a similar name, Hikaru Murakami (4 AB COM)—Hiks, as her friends call her—is not the Japanese novelist you’re thinking of. But if they have something in common, it’s that they both tell compelling tales—Hiks just tells them through film. Over her college life, she has become a well-known filmmaker on campus, thanks to her distinct style and advocacies.

mentary on lesbian rights,” she says. “In the end, they push the angel down to hell.”

Vision in action Hiks got her first camera in her senior year of high school. After dabbling in stop motion and music photography, she realized that she had yet to make full use of her camera’s video feature. When she entered Ateneo, Hiks applied as a cinematographer for Loyola Film Circle (LFC) and as a photographer for the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs). She also applied for The GUIDON’s Photos Staff, but was placed in Video Production (VP) instead. This twist of fate cemented her path towards filmmaking. In the next years, she would help lead the production of LFC’s O-Films, Under the Stars films, and a slew of viral videos made for The GUIDON as its VP editor.

“What [Sherad] says is that, if you’re a queer filmmaker yourself, when you put it out there, your queer experiences will show no matter what,” Hiks explains. “So I guess that’s what I’m trying to do now. I don’t have to make everything so explicit—let people have an interpretation.”

But alongside these org collaborations, Hiks has pursued her own passion projects. Her personal films respond to what she sees as a flawed status quo. “I really try to focus on strong emotions or a strong stand that I want to convey to an audience,” she explains. “And that usually comes from my own advocacies.”

One example is Overture (2017), which features a boy hallucinating as he drowns in a bathtub. Rapid clips of mysterious figures, expressions, and objects cut into each other as the instrumental rises to a crescendo. The film is colorful yet enigmatic in depicting how memories can suffocate. Another piece, Ma, Okay Lang Ako. (2018), grapples with the self-acknowledgment of mental health. It does so in just one minute, and it was a finalist in the Cinema One Originals Minute Student Film Competition of that year.

As a queer woman, Hiks is aware of the discrimination faced by women and the LGBTQ+ community as well as the evolving conversation on mental health. Her frustration with these issues manifests in many of her short films. In a film she did for a digital filmmaking class, two lesbians are having sex when an angel appears to judge them. “It’s supposed to be a com

Hiks is no stranger to creative symbolism now, but she used to wonder exactly how she should tell these stories of struggle. Her mentor, director Sherad Sanchez, helped her embrace a more free-flowing approach.

Constant exploration It’s no surprise then that Hiks’ striking films are dubbed “experimental”—a quality which, in part, sealed her fellowship to the Ninth Ateneo Heights Artists Workshop. Many of her personal projects play with a bewitching array of colors, imagery, and music. Hiks uses these to bravely shed light on taboo subjects.

With her style being so distinct, Hiks has had to navigate her way through directing a team. “When I first started making films, I was stricter with what I wanted,” she admits. “But it eventually toned down when I

started getting positions in orgs.” For her, directing is about ensuring cohesion rather than forcing a vision. As LFC Production Core Deputy, Hiks learned to “hear everyone out” in every collaboration—and she has since grown to love being a friendly mentor to younger crew members. Despite the breadth of her filmmaking experiences, Hiks isn’t sure about getting into the industry right away. “I know that I don’t have the connections, and I don’t know where I’ll end up aside from maybe advertising or something,” she says. But even without a traditional platform, she is sure to pave her own path. And she always has, because Hiks admits that she often breaks the rules before learning them. “Professors and mentors scold me a lot because I don’t watch a lot of film, and because I don’t look up to anyone,” she adds. The fact is, Hiks doesn’t really need to. Her process may be unorthodox, but that has only made her films braver—just as she has been in telling stories that matter, frame by careful frame.

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS PROSE IN PRACTICE

Aisha Rallonza BY BENJIE BERNAL AISHA RALLONZA (4 BFA CW) is a non-fiction writer for whom writing is a muscle that demands exercise. They claim to spend about “a good 90%” of their spare time writing. Outside the classroom, they have shared their stories through multiple Heights literary submissions, fellowship to its prestigious writers’ workshop, and even an advocacy collaboration between organizations. Through thick and thin, this dedicated wordsmith has relentlessly sharpened their skills. A character in oneself Aisha has been inspired by words ever since they were a kid. They grew up in a family of teachers—with their mother and role model being Ma. Lourdes V. Rallonza of the Political Science Department, and their older brother being a high school teacher. These figures have influenced them to express ideas with passion, even on paper. The fictional world of the musical Pippin (1972), also opened Aisha’s eyes to just how imaginative storytelling could be. And so, they initially dreamed of becoming a fiction writer. But after taking sophomore year creative writing classes, Aisha realized that their characters were simply reflections of themselves. Since then, they transitioned to non-fiction to explore their own psyche more directly. “If I don’t write an essay about it, it will be something completely unknown to me,” they say. Aisha then delved into tough non-fiction topics. One concept they revisit is death, which they have grappled with through the passing of family members. “Ever since, [death] has kinda fascinated me [with] the process of grief—what it leaves behind, and what it means to people,” they add. This led them to pursue the topic in their thesis manuscript, Notes from the Autopsy. Another striking essay of theirs, Are You Telling the Truth? (2019), bravely reflects on developing a

tendency to lie in connection with mental health challenges. They may openly share sensitive thoughts in their essays, but they also clarify that effective non-fiction goes beyond trauma. “[Some mistakenly assume that] if you gave Vincent Van Gogh antidepressants, he wouldn’t have made good art,” Aisha says. “I want to break the stereotype of the damaged artist, that you need to be suffering to be a good artist.” Writing with purpose Aisha knows that being a good writer rests on constant effort and a willingness to challenge oneself. Throughout their college life, Aisha has had a number of essays published in Heights Ateneo folios—but has still experienced rejection. “It’s always a harrowing process,” Aisha admits. “It’s kinda hard to separate the self from the writing [...] So it’s like the piece isn’t the only thing being rejected—it’s myself as a person.” Nonetheless, Aisha has persisted through self-doubt. They were accepted into the 24th Ateneo Heights Writers’ Workshop, which let them interact with seasoned writers. Aisha appreciates these different perspectives on their writing, even while their material is drawn from very personal places. “I believe that getting other people’s input is something of a duty,” they explain. “You have to engage with the world you’re writing for during the writing process.” Aisha’s writing has also evolved beyond personal exploration into a platform for others. As a sophomore, they worked with comic enthusiast org Blue Indie Komiks and an advocacy org for rural communities, Barefoot Philippines. Aisha visited an Aeta community to learn about their stories and customs firsthand. The result was Kwentong Aeta: Mekeni Makiramdam (2017)

a children’s storybook co-written by Aisha that wove the community’s tales into a narrative for the youth. Aisha saw the project as especially vital today. “I feel very strongly about the importance of children’s literature, more so children in marginalized sectors,” they say. “[...] We need to write for those who are growing up and don’t often see themselves in stories.” As someone who has been lucky to grow up writing, Aisha wants to keep doing so in the long run. They could join the academe like their mother, but may freelance first then get a master’s degree. The possibilities ahead are all about gaining more clarity as a writer—“to see the world more clearly and help others see it clearly too.” And as always, they trust that the effort will make them even better. “I just keep trying to push through with the process. If there’s anything this experience has taught me,” they explain, “it’s to be dogged and try over and over again.”

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS MOTION CAPTURE

Miko Reyes BY ANNICKA B. KOTEH MIKO REYES (4 BS CTM) moves fast. That much is easy to guess from his earnest energy—what he apologizes for as “rambling” speech—and even easier to understand from his story.

slow curl of cigarette smoke in Kremesoda’s Talk (2018) music video, a dancer lifting her arms to a soaring airplane, or the bustling streets of city nightlife—every frame is deliberately, unmistakably kinetic.

was Miko’s favorite gig—it gave him the chance to present Mindanao as more than “a war zone,” and to instead feature the day-to-day experiences of a misunderstood community.

Though he had already been into photography and Instagram, Miko first edited a video when he was working on a project for his Filipino class. That was in his senior year of high school. In the long summer before college, he binged videography tutorials and went out to film “everything and anything,” including his friends’ dance videos. And by the time he was an Ateneo freshman, Miko already found himself shooting for the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs) and entertaining his first freelance gigs.

For the first two years of his college life, Miko also pursued videography in a kinetic frenzy. A lot of it was a learning curve that he’s thankful for: Mentors inside and outside CADs who would readily share gigs and tips to those starting out. But the other side was a road to burnout. After his first freelance video for a senior’s business, the projects kept on coming, and Miko got caught in the rush. “I thought I really needed to be the best so I could match up to my mentors... [Then] I finally felt my first real burnout when I took on too many things I couldn’t actually handle,” he recalls.

“I love telling people’s stories,” he says. “Especially those who have so much potential, but don’t have the means to reach out and tell their own.”

Fast forward Yet this idea of speed only scratches the surface. Miko’s eye for motion comes from a lifelong familiarity with the concept. He danced with Ateneo High School’s troupe Indayog ng Atenistang Kabataan (IndAK) before ever meeting CADsters. But the hectic training from those days tired him out, and videography seemed like the best new hobby. Luckily, even if Miko misses dancing “a whole lot,” his work for the org marries both interests. “I didn’t even have to give up dance,” he says. “Because this way, at least I make dance videos. I’m not exactly dancing, but it’s still close to my heart.” His passion shows on camera. Though Miko hasn’t committed to a trademark style yet, he does acknowledge how his videos are built on movement. “There’s always gonna be some dance or dynamic in there,” he explains. “I’m always going to incorporate that somehow, either straightforwardly or metaphorically.” And his highlight reel reveals just that. Whether it’s the

This turned out to be a much-needed reality check. “I thought that if this is all for like, the name or the money,” Miko continues. “Then I should stop now— because I’m always gonna end up in this same spot, where I’m just tired and not enjoying it.” Next shot It’s not all smooth sailing. Miko’s love for the craft can still get the better of him—but only because he constantly craves the rush of creation. “But the best part [of my work] totally defeats the burnout like, man, like I would not give it up for anything, ” he explains. “Just creating something that I thought of, the translation, the feeling you get by doing that, it’s amazing.” Beyond even dance or music videos, Miko hopes to translate important narratives into film. He looks back on his project for The Dream Coffee, a homegrown brand of single-origin coffee from the T’boli tribe. Miko was flown to South Cotabato, where he spent three nights listening to the farmers themselves. This

Down the line, Miko dreams of being sent to more places to discover more angles on life. Working for National Geographic has always been his pipe dream. But he wouldn’t be Miko if he just moved in one direction. In the meantime, he plans to freelance as a videographer, maybe train as a barista on the side, and build his newfound DJ-ing skills. He’ll take just about anything on—not for the fame, but for the fun and fulfillment of making great art. “It’s nice to know that people actually appreciate [my work],” Miko admits. “[But] it’s just a huge add-on because I already love what I’m doing.” And really, that’s all he needs to keep the reels rolling.

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS FROM CURIOSITY TO PERSISTENCE

Migs Villaluz BY ROBERTO A. OROSA DESPITE THE hustle and bustle of fine art student-life, Migs Villaluz (4 BFA ID) has managed to release his own EP, make his own art, and consistently DJ in gigs. Pursuing passions in both music and design is no walk in the park, but Migs has pushed himself to excel in both throughout college.

“My lyrics and subject matter tend to be about people and fantasizing about relationships or situations that I have or have not experienced,” Migs says. “[Doing this] is more than just making beats…I really want to show myself for what I was after those two years as raw as I could, complete with all the good and the bad.”

Beats and phases Migs discovered his knack for music during his high school days, when he spent most of his time playing video games. After a while, it dawned on him that the time spent in front of screens could be spent learning something new instead.

Check and balance From his musical experiences, Migs knows that if he wanted to, he could teach himself just about anything. Before college, he decided to give Photoshop a try as well and discovered a newfound passion for design. Migs then entered the University as an Information Design major, hoping to pursue design alongside music. However, he admits that he underestimated the course. There were several programs Migs had to learn apart from Photoshop. The load once made him doubt his capabilities, as design only came second to music in his life. “I [felt] overwhelmed and a bit guilty for being too overconfident with what information design really was,” Migs says. “I definitely [felt] like I was in the wrong path at times.”

Back in 2012, he was obsessed with dubstep, with artists like Deadmau5 and Skrillex playing a big role in his artistic awakening. “I [then] did a lot of Googling: ‘What’s a DAW [digital audio workstation], what’s a DJ, what’s a producer?’ The fascination just kept on building until I started [making] beats,” he says. Migs, then, enrolled in production classes to feed his curiosity. While learning the basics, Migs explored a variety of sounds. “I realized [electronic music] could be loud and chaotic and doesn’t have to be stale and repetitive,” he explains. He then ventured into trance and house, describing the genres as “euphoric—smooth-sounding yet danceable. “That’s when I realized these spectrums [of music] exist, [and] seeing these two extremes of it really opened my eyes,” he says. Migs currently leans towards soulful R&B, which dominates the sound of his solo artist persona LUZE. His first EP entitled Personals. (2019) has five tracks inspired by contemporary hip-hop and boasts colorful beats alongside a bevy of rappers and vocalists. This project was the result of a two-year introspection.

But eventually, he decided to face the challenge of juggling both design and music. Whenever Migs feels like he falls short in either design or music, he remembers that he has the other to lean on. “[When I have] specific projects or plates [for my course] I felt that I was really lacking...I would take comfort in [knowing] that I’m not just a designer,” he adds. “I [used] my frustrations with my inadequacies in design to push myself to write better music and vice-versa.” In balancing these two paths, Migs has learned one important lesson: Persistence. He has no plans of restricting himself to his current sound anytime soon, as finishing his EP was never his end-all and be-all as a producer. With “more time to explore” music and gigs

post-graduation, there’s no limit to his art. The feeling of mediocrity surfaces from time to time, but he has learned to accept this and now sees it as a part of the process. “You can start from nothing and eventually make something you’re super proud of one day,” Migs says. “The whole idea of progression and self-development and learning is something you can apply to just about anything.” Now that’s sound advice, from someone who has carried on in pursuit of growth—in more than one field at a time.

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ARTISTS & PERFORMERS EN POINTE

Alee Young BY DEANA P. PAGTALUNAN DANCE RUNS in Alee Young’s (4 BS PSY) blood. Not only does she come from a family of dancers, but she has also spent over 18 years developing her craft. With multiple styles in her arsenal, Alee has proven that she is truly a force to be reckoned with in the dance world. Setting the stage When she was just three years old, Alee was already enrolled in the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet. While she initially wasn’t fond of dance, she grew to love it as the years went by. Alee earned her first gold medal at the age of seven, as one of the school’s most promising students. She then began to explore genres like contemporary, lyrical, and street, more so with the help of her sisters who dance professionally. When high school came around, Alee followed in her sisters’ footsteps and shifted from ballet to hip-hop. She joined Sayawatha—Miriam College High School’s dance troupe—and competed with them both locally and internationally. Naturally, upon entering Ateneo, she joined the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs). She is also a member of Legit Status, a professional dance company that her siblings are also a part of. Alee has since won and participated in many competitions and workshops around the world. Some of these include the Asia Pacific Dance Competition in Singapore, Dance Excellence in Los Angeles, International All-Star Federation Dance Worlds in Florida, and even Hip Hop International in Las Vegas. All this exposure has led her to become a highly versatile performer. “In the competition scene, I know what to do and what not to do, so one thing I’ve learned is discipline,” she says. Being a student by day and a dancer by night is no easy feat. Alee carefully balances her family life, a full

college workload, and intense rehearsals. Pursuing her passion is twice as tough, as she trains for CADs and Legit Status at the same time. When competitions draw near, rehearsals can end as late as midnight. At the end of the day, though, Alee powers through— all for the love of dance. After getting home at three in the morning, she still manages to finish all of her schoolwork. On top of that, during weekends, she teaches children’s classes in ballet and street at two dance studios. On some weekdays, she even does ballroom with her grandfather. It’s this busy lifestyle that keeps her on her toes. “I feel like I don’t have enough time, so I do stuff kaagad (immediately), as compared to doing nothing. Kahit ang dami kong ginagawa, nakakayanan ko (Even if I’m juggling so many things, I manage to pull through),” she says. “Dapat ma-diskarte ka lang talaga...Ako kasi ‘yung type na gusto kong marami akong ginagawa (You just have to be strategic about it...I’m really just the type of person who likes doing a lot of things).” Curtain call Of course, there are days when burnout still gets the better of Alee. When her steps don’t hit the right beats or when her choreography seems off, she feels disheartened—especially since she has high expectations for herself. Coming from a successful childhood dance career, she fears not growing anymore as a dancer. “I’m scared to make mistakes or be judged by other people. That’s one thing I want to work on,” she adds. But through Alee’s growth mindset, she nonetheless pushes herself to develop her skills. One way she did this was by holding her first-ever adult class at

the Groove Central Dance Studio. Although she felt worried, Alee saw it as an opportunity to expand her “vocabulary” as a budding choreographer. Her transition from performer to teacher may not have been easy, but she is willing to challenge herself if that’s what it takes to grow. At the same time, Alee recognizes when to slow down. As she looks back on her journey with much nostalgia, she realizes that she doesn’t have to pressure herself so much. “I’ve done enough. Mayroon din talaga akong limit na kayang ma-achieve (I guess I really have a limit to what I can achieve),” she admits. “At least before, I had a sense of fulfillment already with dance.” Dance will continue to be a part of Alee’s life, even beyond college. With all the stress from school, family, and life in general, dance is simply her outlet—a chance to step back and feel like herself again. Despite all the awards and glamor, it all boils down to the pure joy she feels the moment she takes that first step. While Alee may not pursue dance professionally in the long term, this girl has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

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Aya Cabauatan Photography Photos courtesy of Aya Cabauatan

Hikaru Murakami Directing Screenshot from Papa, We Took The Bus to LA UNION

Aisha Rallonza Creative Writing Photo courtesy of Aisha Rallonza

Alee Young Dance Photos courtesy of Michael Galvez

Laean Angeles Music Photos courtesy of Wanda Domingo

Jam Binay Theater Photos courtesy of Reamur A. David (Left) Photo by Julia Carpio (Right)

Migs Villaluz Music Photos courtesy of Carlo Jardeleza

Miko Reyes Videography Photos courtesy of Miko Reyes

Narratives 56

David Chua The turnaround

Jiro Reyes Where different worlds meet

Rafa Chua Putting up smiles

Gene Unabia Life is not a race

Meriza Mamaril Empowering young minds

Annika Uy A story of hope

NARRATIVES THE TURNAROUND

David Chua BY TIFFANY BERNARDO WITH A magna cum laude standing and several extracurricular accomplishments under his belt, David Chua (4 BS ITE) undoubtedly has a lot going for him. However, what most people don’t know is that he didn’t always have a perfect academic record. Failure before success In his senior year of high school, David applied to three universities—the University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University (DLSU). He believed that their top business programs suited his interests and capabilities. After all, as an honor student in high school, David was used to being the best, and naturally, he expected to perform well in his entrance exams. Little did he know that reality would be quite different from what he imagined. “I felt so confident taking the Ateneo College Entrance [Test] that after I finished, I thought for sure I was going to be on the Director’s List,” he recalls. “Later on, I found out I ended up in a different list: The waitlist.” While he attained his top choice in DLSU, he was redirected to UP’s Manila campus, which didn’t offer the business courses he wanted. After appealing to Ateneo, he was accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Management program, and he pushed through with it because of the University’s unique culture, campus, and environment. However, he struggled to adjust to his first semester in Ateneo. “I was placed in all basic classes at the start of the semester, and there were a few times I almost failed classes,” David says. He recalls his literature classes, where he was getting a handful of Fs on his papers. Despite these successive failures, he continued to work hard and remained optimistic, noting that “it was

comforting to know others [in the class] were facing the same hardships I was, so it wasn’t as big of a deal as I made it out to be.” Ultimately, for David, it was the people around him—his classmates and newfound friends—that helped him move past failures, strive to do better, and still have fun at the end of the day. Getting into the groove During his junior year, David shifted to the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Entrepreneurship (BS ITE) program after realizing that business management wasn’t something he loved. “It sounded pretty intimidating with the information technology and coding talk, but I figured it would help me start my own business,” he says. This course became something David genuinely enjoyed, as it went beyond business math, accounting, and general management and helped him develop creativity and out-of-the-box thinking: “I always pictured myself as a logical and pragmatic person, but after being exposed to wild ideas, inventions, and unique marketing strategies, I think I was able to pick up a few things and increase my own pool of ideas.” Despite shifting late, he is set to graduate on time and with honors, after two years of overloaded semesters in BS ITE. When asked how he managed to do this, David simply says, “I definitely kept academics as a priority.” He notes that it was helpful to aim for small goals every semester, which led him to the bigger goal of graduating magna cum laude. Besides this, he also attributes his success to the people he met along the way: “More than just finding the right groupmates, I got a lot of guidance from friends who I can rely on for help and moral support.”

Real-world impact An equally major part of David’s college experience is his group’s start-up: LISA, an app that allows people to book cleaning services for their homes. With over 3,000 likes on its Facebook page, the brand is growing to cater to Filipinos all over Metro Manila: “It started out as a course requirement, but it brought [the group] closer together, taught us collaboration, and motivated us to put all our efforts into the business.” Although David can’t predict what the future holds for LISA, he knows that the time he spent working on it, the experience he gained, and the friendships he made along the way will definitely help him with whatever he wants to accomplish in the future. “I’ve always been a bit too laid back in the past, but because of Ateneo, I’ve developed my work ethic through the classes, deadlines, and late-night grinds,” he says. Aside from academics, he speaks highly of the University’s holistic formation: “Ateneo develops a whole array of different talents, and my university ties will go a long way in the future.” Evidently, life isn’t always smooth sailing, but the best you can do is to invest in and work on yourself. “Trust in yourself,” David stresses. “If all else fails, you’ll have no regrets because you’ve done everything you can, 100%.”

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NARRATIVES PUTTING UP SMILES

Rafa Chua BY FRANCINE C. TAN RAFA CHUA (4 BS ME), known to others as the “geek on fleek,” is a familiar face for many. The three-time Freshman Orientation Seminar (OrSem) host, outgoing Kythe-Ateneo president, and Blue Bird Improv co-founder is widely known for his wit and bubbly personality. What motivates all his endeavors is a desire to inspire others and make people happy; these are the driving forces behind all the hard work that Rafa has put into balancing his life as a confident entertainer, a passionate leader, and a student that is graduating cum laude. Finding his footing Since high school, Rafa already had a wide variety of interests. He was part of the prestigious Xavier School International Baccalaureate Program, but was also involved in debate, theater, and a tabletop games club with his friends. When college came around, there was no doubt that Rafa would excel as well. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Rafa admitted that during freshman year, it took a while for him to find his footing because of his challenging course, but he turned it around by making the most out of everything he has experienced. Like many of us, Rafa is eager to grab all the opportunities in front of him, including going beyond his major and exploring his interests. In fact, he willingly overloaded semesters in order to try out a lot of electives and explore other interests. Despite this, he attained a cum laude standing upon finishing his course. He has also excelled in matters outside of academics if his long list of extra-curricular achievements is anything to go by. Aside from serving as a three-time O-Host, Rafa is also the President of

Kythe-Ateneo, the co-founder of Blue Bird Improv, and a budding voice actor. The jack-of-all-trades His Kythe journey started way back in high school. A few months before entering college, he lost his cousin, who Rafa fondly remembers for his sense of hope in the face of adversity. This light is what made Rafa want to be part of Kythe-Ateneo. He wanted to bring joy and hope to all the children he interacted with through his service in the organization. Another member of his family also inspired him to pursue an additional endeavor that would make others happy: Starting the first improvisation organization in the Loyola Schools. Together with his cousin Miguel Dobles, Rafa gathered those who had the same passion for comedy as they did. This led to the foundation of the Blue Bird Improv group. In order to make the organization more welcoming to new members, they made Blue Bird Improv about more than just performances by incorporating the primary advocacy of self-improvement and building self-confidence. More than the laughs that he is able to bring out of people, Rafa enjoys improv because it allows people to share their experiences, think freely, and feel true confidence in their own skin. Aside from his work in his organizations, Rafa spends his little free time on voice acting and pursues hosting gigs on the side. These gigs help Rafa hone his personal style of humor: Bad puns with confident delivery—a style that has made him successful as an OrSem host.

The bigger picture His various endeavors all support his overall goal in life: To find a platform where he can inspire people and make others happy on a massive scale. To achieve this goal, he jumps into opportunities headfirst and tries to learn along the way, as shown by the risks he took during his stay in college. Rafa reflects how passion can help leaders rise above overcome the stress of hectic schedules and heavy workloads. His desire to help others through humor has allowed Rafa to realize that the happiness he is able to impart on others outweighs all the blood, sweat, and tears that he shed along the way. “The way I see it, if you love what you do, you will be willing to endure the work and sacrifice that comes with it. If it was that easy, it wouldn’t be worth it,” he says.

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NARRATIVES EMPOWERING YOUNG MINDS

Meriza Mamaril BY JOSEPH B. BANAAG MANY ATENEANS see their studies as a mere stepping stone on the road to securing a stable, paying job—but for Meriza Mamaril (4 BS ME), her education is also a means to serve others and help them grow. Throughout her stay in Ateneo, the cum laude graduate juggled tutor work, organizational commitments, and academics in hopes of extending her knowledge to those who need it the most. Ultimately, Meriza felt that she had the responsibility to inspire other students—especially kids who have limited opportunities in school—to give their all to their education. Journey of service Aside from maintaining her academics, Meriza explored extracurricular activities to make the most out of her college experience. She initially participated in student organizations to have fun while building her resume. However, as she got to know her organizations’ advocacies, Meriza was inspired to take on leadership positions in hopes of serving her orgmates, nearby communities, and fellow students. Ateneo CODE’s advocacy of youth empowerment encouraged Meriza to join the organization in her freshman year. For her first engagement as a fully-fledged member, Meriza handled a leadership training seminar for public school students. Even after many projects with Ateneo CODE, it was this event that resonated with her the most. “I never received such training and support, and thus, never felt empowered in [their] position,” she says about her experience as a former public school student. Because of this, she joined the Externals Department— the arm that handles engagements with schools—and eventually became its head. Meriza believes that her

work in CODE is her way of helping students who were in her position. Aside from her work as Ateneo CODE’s Externals Head, Meriza also took her passion for service to the Freshman Orientation Seminar (OrSem) Organizing Committee. Here, she signed on as the Tours Head before becoming one of the O-Chairs for OrSem 2019: Silay. Meriza cites her OrSem journey as an experience of immense growth, especially as a leader for others. Despite coming off a subcore position and having apprehensions about her capabilities, she realized that heading the event is one of the best forms of service she could offer. Meriza and her team would go on to dedicate months of grueling preparation, facing various setbacks like storms and cancellations, to ensure a warm welcome for the newest batch of Ateneans. Equipped with a strong advocacy and a go-getter attitude, Meriza not only enjoyed the college experience, like she originally intended, but also made a difference in the lives of others along the way. “I may have tried out orgs for the wrong reasons, [but] I can say I stayed for the right ones,” she says. Learning from teaching In addition to her already heavy workload, Meriza also secured a stable part-time job in tutoring second grade to high school students during her senior year. She says that time—which could have been spent studying, resting, or being with her friends and family—was one of the biggest sacrifices she had to make to simultaneously sustain her job and balance her academics.

In fact, there was one instance wherein she had a tutoring session merely hours before she had to take a long test. Her tutee lived quite a distance from Ateneo, and she risked being late for the long test—not to mention the fatigue she endured from the travel. However, Meriza did not let this stop her. “I didn’t want to skip the session because I already committed. I was also worried for the child as her exam week was already approaching,” she recalls. Despite the sacrifices she had to make, Meriza enjoys teaching. More than a way to earn money, she saw her tutoring gig as an opportunity to impart her learnings and to learn from her tutees as well: “I like witnessing others improve themselves and grow, and it’s even more touching knowing that I get to be part of that experience.” Finding the balance Balancing a part-time job, extracurricular activities, and academics was definitely a challenge until the very end. Along the way, she came up with a system to help her cope with the workload—compartmentalizing her hours and allocating them based on the urgency and importance of her tasks. She also learned the value of saying no to commitments she cannot handle: “Quantitatively more does not necessarily mean qualitatively deeper! Magis means choosing the more loving option.”

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However, her best weapon is her mindset. She believes that her education—and everything she does—is never just for her and her family, but for the people she aims to serve. “I realized that there’s so much more that I can do for others and that I can take part in things bigger than myself,” she says.

NARRATIVES WHERE DIFFERENT WORLDS MEET

Jiro Reyes BY AARON D. TOLENTINO THERE ARE those who believe that art and business can’t go together—those who believe that the pursuit of the arts is doomed to bankruptcy. However, Jiro Reyes (4 BFA ID) has shown otherwise. As an artist, he spent his college years honing his skills as a graphic designer while passionately cheering for the school as a member of the Blue Babble Battalion. At the same time, Jiro made great strides as an entrepreneur with art as the catalyst for his business ventures. Refining his craft Before Jiro got to where he is now, he had to put in a lot of work, especially when it came to becoming a better designer. “I had no background in design when I came into college. I just knew how to work a pencil,” he says. Over the next few years, Jiro studied and practiced graphic design until he built up the courage to offer his services to establishments around Katipunan. Now, he is proud of the progress he has made: “Looking at the designs I started with and the designs I do now, halatang halata yung difference (the difference is obvious).”

Aside from finding a family in the cheering squad, he also learned how to be more communicative and confident—a far cry from his high school self who was frightened of crowds. Jiro believes that if it wasn’t for Babble, he wouldn’t be the “new man” that he is today. A young entrepreneur College quickly exposed Jiro to a wide range of possibilities, but his growth didn’t stop with design and cheering. Accompanying these achievements was the realization that he could capitalize on his skills. One of the first times he put his interest in graphic design to use was when he sold shirts on Ateneo Trade in his freshman year. Later on, his business savvy high school friends influenced him to venture into entrepreneurship as well. This would eventually push the passionate artist to apply himself to the cut-throat world of business.

But design isn’t the only thing Jiro is passionate about. In his freshman year, Jiro passed by the Moro Lorenzo Football Field on a Wednesday afternoon and heard the beating of the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion’s drums. From that moment on, he wanted to be a part of “the heartbeat of Ateneo.”

Jiro jumped from selling t-shirts online to co-founding his first legitimate business in 2019—Tipsy Lab Mobile Bar. As the head of Tipsy Lab’s marketing and branding, he wanted their company to give the “high school” experience of friendly barkadahan to people holding events like debuts and weddings. Jiro and his partners acknowledged that they had to stand out from the competition, so they searched for a way to add “depth” to their business. “We marketed [Tipsy Lab] in a way that we’re not selling the drinks, rather, the experience we’re giving to the consumers,” Jiro says.

Jiro decided to put his boisterous personality to good use and became a part of Babble. “Babble has been really the biggest factor of my college life, the biggest game-changer,” he says.

Despite initially struggling to find capital, Jiro and his partners were able to quickly earn from the business after around four months of continuous services at events.

Unfortunately, Tipsy Lab had to cease operations due to internal reasons. Though it came to an abrupt end, the venture was not for naught, especially for Jiro, who looks back on the experience as one of immense growth. Thanks to Tipsy Lab, Jiro was featured as the youngest person on When in Manila’s list of 30 successful entrepreneurs under 30. But more importantly, the budding entrepreneur walked away from his first business endeavor with insights that will help strengthen his future ventures. Overturning conventions Although the business is no longer running, Tipsy Lab was able to bring Jiro one step closer to realizing what he wants out of life. After his experience with running the mobile bar, he now wants his future businesses to serve a greater purpose: “For me, [having a purpose] is also the driving force for why I would continue one thing even if I lost all the motivation for it.” As Jiro continues his quest for improvement, he gets closer to his goals—which include achieving financial independence and traveling more. However, to reach these milestones, he believes that he should not be boxed in by what he learned in college: “It doesn’t mean if you’re a fine arts major that you’re only inclined to that, you can be whatever you want to be, as long as you work for it.”

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NARRATIVES LIFE IS NOT A RACE

Gene Unabia BY AARON D. TOLENTINO MOST PEOPLE want to get in and out of college as quickly as possible, but Gene Unabia (6 BS ME and AB EC) is not like the majority. For him, college is more than just a pit stop. After taking two majors and four minors and exploring a wide range of extracurricular opportunities during his six-year stay in Ateneo, Gene, who is set to graduate with an Honorable Mention, exemplifies how college is a journey where everyone takes their own unique path. A different curriculum It all began with a mindset shift. In Gene’s first year, he was content with getting Cs or Ds—so long as he didn’t fail—but upon seeing how well his classmates from high school fared in college, he decided to start reinventing himself. A major point in Gene’s self-improvement journey was when he realized that he did not want to pursue a career in law. In his second year, Gene shifted from the Bachelor of Science in Legal Management program to Management Engineering,a decision his parents supported in spite of how it would delay his graduation. Shifting to a new course extended his stay by two years. To make the most out of this additional time, Gene decided to take another major in Economics, a subject he says he always wanted to study. He also pursued minors and specializations in Marketing, International Business, and Data Science and Analytics to complement his management background. Aside from these, Gene also took a minor in Japanese Studies as preparation for his Junior Term Abroad (JTA). To Gene, JTA was another opportunity to grow and learn. “JTA was the time where I told myself [that] I’m going to try so many new things,” he recalled. He had

the same motivation for going on a Summer Term Abroad in Korea later on.

internship, and he still works closely with them as a student-ambassador.

Gene came back from his time abroad knowing how to dance—a talent he continued to hone by joining Rhythm-in-Blue (RiB), a dance competition for student organizations. He represented Lex Groove, Ateneo Lex’s dance troupe, and ultimately won RiB in 2019.

Even though he knows that he could have begun his corporate career earlier, Gene recognizes that his extended stay in college allowed him to experience and learn so much more than he would have if he didn’t shift: “When I look back at the past two years, the additional years I had in college, the person I am today would not have happened [without the extra years].”

As he looks back on his studies overseas, Gene muses about how the experience helped him learn from others: “I’ve met so many people of different stories, different backgrounds, and it’s helped me try new things and gave me a perspective that most people here don’t have.” After shifting majors, a load of minors, and insights from his stints abroad, Gene could have chosen to simply ride out his additional two years. But Gene is clearly not made for the easygoing route. Exceeding expectations Gene’s drive isn’t just limited to his classes in Ateneo and his exchange universities. Accompanying his academic success is an equally successful extra-curricular track record. Gene was active in multiple organizations including the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association (AJMA) and the Ateneo Resident Students Association. In his final year, he was crowned as Mr. SOM as he represented AJMA in the Business Cluster Month. Moreover, he found his stride once he explored his passion and excellence for case competitions. After winning a competition hosted by JPMorgan Chase, Gene joined the same company for an

As proud as he is of all that he accomplished, Gene does hold one regret—being away from home in Cagayan de Oro as his 14-year-old brother grows up. He reflects, “Everything I do is so that [my brother] can look up to me and say, ‘I want to be like my kuya;’ everything I do is towards that goal.” If Gene’s impressive and unique track record in Ateneo is anything to go by, he was certainly able to accomplish his dream of being an inspirational kuya and more. The main takeaway he would like to impart, not only to his brother, but also to incoming Ateneans is to shed the fear of having to be delayed and become brave enough to step outside of their comfort zones. Although some of his friends from Batch 2018 are already working and have established careers, he emphasizes that everyone should simply enjoy and make the most out of their time in college because life, as he knows all too well, is not a race. As Gene confidently says, “It’s been six years, but it’s been a really good six years.”

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NARRATIVES A STORY OF HOPE

Annika Uy BY TIFFANY BERNARDO WHEN ANNIKA Uy (4 BFA ID) was diagnosed with cancer as a child, she didn’t feel like she had a bigger support system outside of her friends and family. It wasn’t until high school that she discovered Kythe, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides psychosocial support for children with chronic illnesses. “My organization back [in high school], the Youth Christian Life Community, asked me and a Kythe, Inc. representative to give a talk to its members,” she recalls. After they heard her story, the representative encouraged Annika to sign up for Kythe, Inc.’s student arm in Ateneo. Since then, Annika’s heart was set on becoming a member of Kythe-Ateneo. “I wanted to give to the kids what I didn’t exactly have as a cancer patient back then,” she explains. Now, as the organization’s Campaign Director, Annika embodies its advocacy in Kythe-Ateneo’s projects and in her own personal life. A serious responsibility As Campaign Director, Annika managed Kythe-Ateneo’s online presence, event materials, and donations for Hair2Share, an initiative that provides free medical wigs for anyone in need. This, coupled with Kythe-Ateneo’s promotional activities, helps spread and promote the understanding of their advocacy. Even as a cancer survivor, Annika never uses her sickness as an example to the kids or families she visits. Instead, she focuses on listening to them, giving support, and sharing time and love with the sector. “I want them to feel like I’m there with them on that journey,” she emphasizes. “I’m not using my own experiences to generalize and impose solutions to their problems.” True enough, Annika tries to treat the kids differently from what they’re used to in the hospital when she visits. “While the doctors cure their illnesses, we han-

dle emotional and mental well-being. This helps them remember that they’re more than just their illnesses— that as kids, they’re allowed to have fun,” she says. Giving emotional support However, things aren’t always smooth sailing. “The reality of the sector makes it difficult sometimes,” Annika admits. She mentions that though the kids are filled with hopes and dreams, their parents are more wary and scared—understandably so. This is a big part of why Annika loves to visit the kids. During these hours spent with them, both Annika and the kids are reminded of the human capacity to hope and love. These sentiments spill over to the patients’ families, who realize that there are people out there who care. As Annika recalls the impact of her work for Kythe, she remembers meeting Cesca, who was admitted to a hospital when she was around two years old. “She asked me to draw a fishda for her,” she says. This moment seems quite ordinary, but it struck a chord in Cesca because it was her first memory at the hospital. After that, she would ask every Kyther about Annika. Though Annika was only able to visit once more before Cesca was discharged, the experience remains proof that Kythe has a big effect on the sector it serves. “Being around these kids, the bigat (heavy) feeling disappears because you see the beautiful side of life too,” Annika adds. Continuing her advocacy If there’s one thing Annika has learned from her time in the Ateneo, it’s this: “In order for you to properly serve, you have to know who you’re serving.” For Annika, it’s important to give each person an identity—to associate each face with a name, a personality, and a

bigger understanding of who they are. This, ultimately, strengthens her passion and purpose for the cause. After graduation, Annika has no plans to leave this advocacy behind. “I love to serve others in general—it isn’t specific to Kythe. I want to immerse myself in their situations so we can respond to these systemic injustices better and come out of them stronger, together,” she says. For her, one way to continue her advocacy is through Kythe, Inc. or other non-governmental organizations, but she acknowledges that these aren’t the only solutions: “Just getting one more person knowledgeable or involved in the advocacy is already a big thing.” Looking back on her four years as a committed member in Kythe-Ateneo, Annika acknowledges that hope has been one of her biggest motivations. “Everyone will go through a difficult time at one point in their lives, but if you give up, there is no chance for things to get better,” she explains. Truly, Annika’s story is one of hope—of finding, sharing, and sustaining it to reveal the truth of our sometimes chaotic world: In the end, beauty and goodness will prevail.

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Mentors 64

Mark Joseph Calano Crossroads

Louie Julian From the heart

Trinket Canlas Breathing space

Allan Ko Ateneoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-kept secret

Olivia Habana Storytime

RamĂłn Sunico Full circle

MENTORS CROSSROADS

Mark Joseph Calano BY DEANA P. PAGTALUNAN Discernment is a hallmark of Ignatian spirituality. In a Jesuit institution like Ateneo, it’s no surprise that this concept is heavily integrated into its academics, particularly in the humanities. Making choices has even become the main topic of a newly piloted class called DLQ 10: Discerning Life Questions, which incorporates both philosophy and theology.

Life after college opened even more doors for Calano. He initially planned on studying at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, but living abroad was too expensive. He also considered accepting an offer to be a research executive in Pangasinan. Although the job in Pangasinan would lead him to a secure future, he still wanted to challenge himself.

Thankfully, for Philosophy Department Assistant Professor Mark Joseph Calano, PhD, these subjects are right up his alley. After more than 12 years of teaching philosophy and theology in Ateneo, Calano’s extensive experience in both disciplines allows him to do the new course justice and help college students make sense of their decisions. But to arrive at this point, he had to face a number of crossroads at different parts of his life.

In the end, he chose Ateneo—where he could both teach and complete a doctorate in philosophy. Given the legendary professors to learn from and the research opportunities in his field, Calano’s choice was a no-brainer. “It was the prospect of growth [that made me choose Ateneo],” he says. “I saw a home where I could become the person God wanted me to be considering my potential.”

Finding the right fit Having been raised as a devout Catholic, Calano knew he wanted to pursue theology. How he planned to do so was another question altogether. He thus embarked on a winding journey in search of the best way to live out this vocation.

The better choice Ever since working at Ateneo in 2008, Calano has committed himself to instilling a growth mindset in his students. He believes that incorporating both philosophy and theology is crucial in doing so. This is where DLQ, a hybrid theology-philosophy course that aims to foster a reflective approach to decision-making, comes in.

For starters, Calano became a Franciscan seminarian, which required him to study both philosophy and theology. But after much reflection, he realized that the religious life wasn’t for him and left the order. He then decided to study at Baguio’s St. Louis University under a scholarship. “Most of the liberal theologians were in Baguio at the time. It was really a good opportunity for me to be mentored by them,” he says. In 2007, he graduated with flying colors with a degree in philosophy, a master’s degrees in philosophy and religious studies, and a doctorate in applied linguistics.

“I always think that philosophy and theology are complementary sciences,” Calano explains. “There are things that you can learn philosophically, but not theologically, [and] vice versa,” Calano explains. He also makes sure to draw lectures from his own experiences. He talks about the choices he has made throughout his life and the thought processes that went into them. After discussing these experiences, Calano then connects them to theology and

philosophy—allowing students to better see how DLQ concepts apply to real-world scenarios. Ivan Cruz (BS ME ‘20), one of Calano’s DLQ students in A.Y. 2019-2020, found this approach to be effective. “I’ve always tried to grow by comparing myself to my peers and working hard to bridge our gaps,” he admits. “[Calano] helped me understand that I’ve been given my own unique set of strengths and context wherein I can thrive in my own way and find happiness.” Like any teacher, Calano simply wants what is best for his students. DLQ may not dictate which decisions to make, but it definitely shows how to make them. “Weigh your cards because the best option is not always the better option,” he says. “Learn to take risks—especially when what you’re risking for is your heart’s desires. You will never know if you are correct until you are there.”

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MENTORS BREATHING SPACE

Trinket Canlas BY KIRBY G. JALANDONI THERE’S NOTHING like the Ateneo campus. It is, undoubtedly, one of the most memorable parts of the Atenean experience. From the green fields to the hallowed halls, every student has a spot on campus they hold dear. However, the campus is more than a university. It is a massive, 205-acre piece of land abound with nature and animals. The biodiversity of the vast campus grounds is one of its most subtle aspects—the kind of phenomenon that the average student wouldn’t notice amidst the hustle and bustle of college life. Luckily, a page found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram called The Ateneo Wild exists to document the surrounding nature most students take for granted. The page showcases fascinating tidbits about the campus’ wildlife, like the giant honey bee honeycombs by Cervini field or how peregrine falcons stop by Loyola Heights during migration season. Behind this project is Department of Biology Department Instructor Trinket Canlas, who co-runs the page with Department of Environmental Science Instructor Abby Favis. For Canlas, her fascination with the campus’ nature didn’t stem from a deep-rooted association with Ateneo. Instead, her journey in documenting Ateneo’s wildlife began with one of her favorite hobbies: Bird watching. Passion project Part of the advocacy of Canlas’s bird watching club, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, is to take people on guided trips. “[We conduct trips] to let people know that there’s more than the Maya [bird] out there,” Canlas says. As such, in 2011, Favis approached Canlas and convinced her to give a guided tour to the general community in Ateneo.

To the duo’s surprise, their first nature walk on campus was a hit. Because of this, they began conducting more nature walks in Ateneo, albeit only once or twice a year. Favis and Canlas finally formalized the guided trips in 2017, allowing the entire Ateneo community to join and help monitor the campus’ biodiversity.

Before becoming a Loyola Schools professor, Canlas taught in the Ateneo High School (AHS) in the early 2000s. Since she had to make a lesson plan for each lecture as an AHS teacher, Canlas developed a structured manner of instruction—a trait she still has as a college professor.

Since the easiest way to reach the community is through social media, Canlas and Favis set up The Ateneo Wild in 2018. From that point on, the rest was history. Canlas has been happy with how involved the community has been—from students to security guards and maintenance personnel.

As such, many of Canlas’ students have appreciated this organized way of teaching. For Canlas, she finds the most fulfillment in her job as a professor—especially when they fall in love with the subject matter because of her. “When [my former students] tell me that they decided to take further studies because of what they learned in my class, it makes me very happy,” she says.

“Abby and I go on regular bird walks for content but of course, we can’t see everything,” Canlas says. “We were surprised that people really take photos and submit things we normally don’t see. We hope to build discourse and an appreciation for what’s already there.” Inside out While Canlas’s duty with The Ateneo Wild has evolved along with the project, her role as a biology professor has remained constant. She has been a Loyola Schools professor for 13 years—a year longer than the 12 years she spent studying in Miriam College for elementary and high school, as well as her 12 years in the University of the Philippines-Diliman for her undergraduate and master’s studies. It seems odd that Canlas decided to teach in the other Katipunan Avenue school that she didn’t attend growing up. But for her, she welcomed the change of scenery. “When I started teaching, I wanted a new environment, but I didn’t want something radically different from what I was used to,” Canlas says.

But what Canlas truly wants to impart to her students, beyond the biology lessons and concepts, is to remain composed when the outside world comes knocking. Much like her work for The Ateneo Wild, she emphasizes the importance of looking deeper into life—outside the structures and consistency students have been accustomed to. “Don’t panic when you’re in the ‘real world’. It’s very, very different from the bubble of any university you’ve been used to,” Canlas says. “At the same time, don’t be afraid to be flexible and to explore and see what’s out there. Your experiences will make you open to more experiences.”

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MENTORS STORYTIME

Olivia Habana BY JAIME D. DAVID FOR MANY Filipinos, one of the best things about being a kid is listening to the stories of titos and titas during family get-togethers. Many of them recount the past animatedly, keeping those listening gripped on what comes next. Memories like these are what History Department Chairperson Olivia Habana manages to revive during her history classes—which is not as easy as it seems. For a subject highly-dependent on facts and documents, many teachers fall into the trap of teaching history primarily from this lens. After all, it is easier to make students memorize dates and test them on how well they remember them. But Habana doesn’t just teach by the book: The way she conducts her classes makes her a storyteller as much as a college professor. Her lectures are both intimate and unforgettable, which is a direct result of over two decades of continually adapting her teaching style to best impact her students. An unforgettable time Habana began her career in 1996 and is best known for teaching History (HI) 165: Rizal and the Emergence of the Philippine Nation, and HI 166: Philippine History. She has also taught various electives in both graduate and undergraduate levels that tackle topics like Philippine economic history, local and social history, and historiography. Based on the work she has done for Philippine history, Habana’s passion for the subject is clear. However, what makes her stand out as a professor isn’t just her extensive knowledge and experience. The way she narrates on the subject is always so genuine, speaking from her love for the field and expansive memory bank.

For instance, in her HI 165 classes, her most memorable classes are stories of her travels to meet the witches of Siquijor, or the awkward encounters with priests at the National Archives. Her lectures are done in the most endearing way—as if Lapu-Lapu and Soliman were subjects of the latest gossip. Even if her classes usually consist of more than 50 students, she still manages to keep everyone interested— which is no easy feat. “[Habana] always made it a point to insert fun facts about history during the lectures, and she’s very [good at telling stories]. That for me is what motivated me to go to her class,” explains Luigi Gamaitan (BS MGT ‘20), who took Habana’s HI 165 class in 2019. For Habana, seeing this fascination from students is one of the best parts of being a professor. “One of my favorite moments in any class is when I see just one face light up in class with recognition, revelation, or enlightenment,” Habana says. “It can be on a monumental realization such as ‘The Katipunan was based on Rizal’s ideas,’ or even something as simple as ‘Prehispanic Filipinos used gold.’” Outside the lines Her work also goes beyond the classroom. She has been part of the Ateneo Cultural and Social Laboratory for over a decade, which allows students to do fieldwork in various places in the Philippines such as Palawan, Aklan, Batangas, and Vigan. Habana also helps train Araling Panlipunan and Philippine history teachers from both private and public schools across the country. The sheer amount of engagements that she has outside her work as a teacher can be taxing. But the drive that keeps her going, despite the demanding nature

of her profession, is simple. “[I do these for] the young people of the Philippines,” she says. This motivation has also guided Habana in the numerous history textbooks she has co-written for basic education. She made sure that the fact-based knowledge and narratives contained in these textbooks were specifically meaningful to students. “For the majority of Filipinos, the only history books they will ever read are their textbooks,” Habana explains. All of these works show that Habana goes above and beyond her job description. She is not merely a professor or a historian, but rather, a protector of the truth. In an era where historical revisionism runs rampant, she presents our past in a way that is relevant and enticing to young people—making sure that history doesn’t repeat itself. ”There is a tendency to selectively remember, either on a personal or national scale, depending on the agenda of governments or societies,” she says “[This is why] I believe that the stories of how humans and human societies have existed, failed, and triumphed through time are worth serious and systematic study.”

a n a b a H

MENTORS FROM THE HEART

Louie Julian BY DEANA P. PAGTALUNAN Many alumni claim that the college experience in Ateneo is life-changing. Theology professor Louie Julian knows this firsthand. After all, he has spent over ten years at the Ateneo de Manila University—both as a student and a teacher. Julian first entered the school as an AB Philosophy student. After graduating in 2013, he pursued a master’s degree in Theological Studies at the Loyola School of Theology (LST). In 2015, he taught part-time at the Loyola Schools and became a full-time instructor under the Theology Department two years later. Today, he teaches Theology (TH) 151: The Catholic Commitment of Today’s Filipino: A Synthesis—a course for graduating students. College takeaways Julian’s passion for teaching took root when he was a student. In fact, he discovered his love for public speaking out of sheer luck. During his junior year, he applied to be a Talks-and-Tours (TNT) facilitator for the Ateneo Orientation Seminar on a whim, and the rest was history. “When I [became a TNT], I found that I really enjoyed [public speaking]. I joined more orgs that could help me do more of [that], then I wondered if I could do this for the long haul,” he says. At the same time, Julian knew that he wanted to deepen his understanding of his faith even after college. This was because of his upbringing in a Christian household and the profound impact faith had on his life. Thankfully, taking classes under several “legendary” professors provided him with a foundation for the understanding he craved—which would eventually influence his approach to theology and his teaching style.

For instance, Julian learned about structure from Adolfo Dacanay, SJ, and his organized lectures. On the other hand, Bobby Guevara taught him storytelling by presenting social realities and theological concepts hand-in-hand. Meanwhile, Fr. Daniel Sormani from the Congregation of the Holy Spirit imparted the relevance of student participation through inclusive discussions that even accommodated non-Christians. And when he entered the LST, there was Arnel Aquino, SJ, who showed the importance of sincerity when it came to his vulnerabilities. “What was common in all of them was that none of them gave me an easy time to learn those lessons,” Julian says. “In college, I was not really a great student. When I got exposed to mentors with high standards, that was what got me out of my shell.” The value of trust Being a theology teacher is no easy feat. Julian’s biggest challenge is ensuring that his lectures are relevant to his students, and he believes that becoming an effective teacher entails building trust with them. As such, Julian connects with his students inside and outside of the classroom. He calls them by their most casual nicknames, and they call him “Louie.” He isn’t afraid to admit when he doesn’t know the answers to questions in class. At his office, he accommodates any student who would want to talk, whether it be about academic or personal concerns. He also checks up on his students if he runs into them on campus or along Katipunan. Every year on his birthday, he even dedicates an entire session for his “Quarter Life Lecture”—a discussion about life lessons he picked up from his first few years after college.

In doing these, Julian presents himself as honestly as possible—both as a teacher and a human being with flaws. For him, this authenticity is crucial to being a theology teacher. “You can’t just be purely technical. There’s a part of you that has to ask yourself if you’re shaping their hearts in a positive way,” he adds. True enough, many of Julian’s students have resonated with his lessons. “Julian remained true to the promise of TH 151, synthesizing and challenging us to think about what theology personally meant in the greater scheme of things,” says Kayle Amurao (BS ME ‘19), who was Julian’s student in 2019. “My learnings from Louie’s lectures gave me the courage to face the questions that later shaped how I wanted to commit to living my life.” At the end of the day, Julian seeks to prepare his students for life after college. While there is undoubtedly much uncertainty down the road, he knows that a little hope can go a long way. “Things that don’t go your way are things you can’t change. What you can change is if you want to be hopeful or fall into despair,” Julian says. “Remain hopeful even when things don’t go your way.”

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MENTORS ATENEO’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

Allan Ko BY JAIME D. DAVID Have you ever seen videos on Facebook of grown men dancing in crop tops inside Ateneo? Maybe you have come across poorly-edited music videos of your batchmates living out their pop star dreams and wondered “Ano trip ng mga ‘to? (What’s the point of this?)” If you’ve watched any of these videos, odds are there is one man responsible for all of this public embarrassment. His name is legendary among a select few, but his wisdom and influence will forever live within them. Allan Ko is one of the most renowned professors in the John Gokongwei School of Management. He currently teaches operations management and strategic human resource management under the new curriculum. Ko juggles his commitment as a part-time professor with his role as the Human Resources Head of Asia for multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson. But the way Ko made a name for himself was through the foundational Leadership and Strategy (LS) course in the old curriculum: LS 100. A visionary Before Allan Ko came into the fold, LS 100 was often taught in a conventional manner—most professors would use textbooks and give out written tests. However, Ko felt there was a more effective way to share his wisdom with students. For him, LS 100 was the kind of subject that had to be learned through experience, reflection, and communicating with others. “I had this huge passion to overhaul [the subject],” he recalls. “We needed to do something so that students [could] walk away from the semester learning and not [only] studying.” As a result, Ko implemented a unique format for his LS 100 classes. Lectures would still take place, but instead of written assessments, students were split into teams

based on personality types and thrown into competitions by performing a series of quirky tasks, which often lasted for a week or two. More often than not, competition between teams grew in intensity after every task.

“Alumni get attached to the subject because [Ko] really builds relationships with students. Students learn more about themselves through the class,” says Sherwin Uy (BS MGT ‘18), who took Ko’s LS 100 class in 2017.

At different stages of the semester, new dynamics, such as firing members and changing teams, were introduced. “This was done to thrust students into situations they wouldn’t volunteer for,” Ko explains. After each task, students were forced to assess one another, culminating in a reality-show-esque activity called “The Grill.” Controversy, which sometimes escalated to shouting matches, arose during this activity because students were pushed to talk about their feelings and assessments of each other in a face-to-face setting.

His unique curriculum has not only garnered critical acclaim from alumni, but from external committees as well. In 2015 and 2016, the class received special recognition for Excellence and Teaching Delivery in the Wharton QS Reimagine Education Awards—one of the biggest education award programs in the world. Ko was surprised that the class, which can cause controversy and is difficult to scale, resonated with the academic community.

Lasting lessons Despite all the work that goes into each task and the drama that transpires throughout the semester, Ko says the crowning jewel of the course is in the reflections, which he required the students to write after every task. “[The reflections are] where the learning happens. After you take yourself away from all the drama, what happens is a meta,” Ko says. He would always provide a personal response to each of his student’s insights. Ko’s mentorship truly manifests in the engagement of his class’ alumni, who are often involved in the tasks. For instance, Ko gives bonus points to the teams that feature some of his past LS 100 students in their videos, which are often the output of a task. This forces the students to test their networking skills and find alumni from Ko’s previous classes—most of whom are glad to help.

“When we wrote about what the class was about and submitted it to Wharton, they said [the class] was really something ground-breaking,” Ko recounts. However, Ko’s legendary LS 100 class was one of the many that met its end with the introduction of the new curriculum. After holding the class’ last run in its 10th and final year in 2019, Ko shared why LS 100 made a lasting impact on so many students. “It would be easy in other classes to cast other students aside because they may not be talking in class, flunk a quantitative test, or have poor work ethic,” Ko says. “But in LS 100, there is room for everyone. As the tasks develop, someone always has something to offer.”

o K

MENTORS FULL CIRCLE

Ramón Sunico BY KIRBY G. JALANDONI MANY FRESHMEN who enter the merit English and literature (EnLit) class of Ramón Sunico, a multi-awarded poet and writer, expect, well, English and literature lessons. But he is far from the conventional English professor: His classes double as philosophy and history lessons, he relates concepts to German words, and he makes his students write a genealogy for their EnLit term paper. The nature of his classes may seem unusual, but his students attest that there is a seamlessness in the way Sunico connects disciplines that seem unrelated on paper. As someone who has traveled the world and spent significant time outside the academe, Sunico has experienced enough to help college students make sense of life, making it unsurprising that he also instructs various philosophy and humanities classes. However, there was a time Sunico didn’t think he was experienced enough to teach. Into the unknown Like many college seniors, Sunico (AB HUM ‘76) didn’t know what to do after graduation. Luckily, a stellar semester in one of his literature classes led to an invitation to teach at the English Department. He took the opportunity and began his teaching career right out of college. After a handful of years as an English and philosophy professor, however, Sunico found himself at a point of burnout. He also felt that, at that stage of his life, he could not teach without feeling like he was deceiving his students and himself. “I realized—why am I teaching [philosophy] when I haven’t experienced the world? Who was I to talk about the meaning of life when all I’ve lived in was the Ateneo?” Sunico recalls.

He jumped to the publishing industry thereafter, serving as the General Manager of the Cacho Publishing House. While at Cacho, Sunico helped revitalize the Philippine book industry. He published books, most notably Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada ‘70, which reshaped public perception in the post-Marcos era. He was also instrumental in modernizing book production in the country through the use of desktop publishing. In his decades-long stay in Cacho, he expanded his worldview and impacted the Philippines for the better. For Sunico, this was his plan all along. “[After leaving teaching], I wanted to help control modes of production to help my country,” he says. “And I wound up doing it.” Home is where the heart is Eventually, Sunico felt it was time to leave the publishing industry. While surveying his options, he also liked the idea of life coming full circle. And since he never let go of his connection with Ateneo, he decided to make a return to full-time teaching in 2015. Sunico was initially afraid that his old teachings wouldn’t work on a completely different generation of students. But his co-teachers assured him that nothing—not even knowledge—can go obsolete. His colleagues proved correct. Sunico taught the same way, drawing the same effect from his students. He did, however, introduce new requirements, one of them being his famous genealogy term paper, or a lengthy study of one’s own family history. It was a move borne out of an appreciation for the craft of long-form writing—one that evolved after decades in the publishing industry—and the advent of digital technology. Sunico knew this kind of paper was practically impossible to plagiarize off the internet.

The genealogy also has a life beyond the semester, unlike most requirements that students throw away after grading. This was by design. Even years after the class, his students look back on it from time to time. He made sure the requirement had real, lasting value for them. In talking with Sunico, this genuine care for his students is what sticks out. He doesn’t treat teaching merely as a profession, but as an act of service for his students. His classes help mold them into leaders ready to face the real world and all its complexity. This is why he makes them deal with contradictions and draw connections from a variety of fields: He shows that being a generalist helps cope with change, which is what ultimately triumphs in the fast-shifting world. It’s a lesson that is as apt as ever for his students of the graduating batch. He reminds them to remain steadfast amidst all the uncertainty, and that when times get tough, he will always be there to help make sense of life—just like old times. “I just want to say that I’m on your side,” Sunico says. “I hope you have what schools don’t always teach: Courage. That is what you’ll need to face a world like this.”

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Staff & Administration 72

OSCI Director Ophalle Alonza-Pornela and OSA Director Tats Quiblat Guiding growth

ASPAC President Andrew Puen Grants and opportunities

Department Secretaries

Vice President for the Loyola Schools Maria Luz Vilches, PhD

University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION GUIDING GROWTH

Ophalle Alonza-Pornela & Tats Quiblat BY KOJI P. BAUI STUDENT FORMATION is one of the University’s main thrusts, and it often fulfills this duty through its offices. The school’s many offices give students a surplus of opportunities to develop their full potential—intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. After engaging in these activities, students become more equipped for creating a positive impact in society, especially among the marginalized. Whether it’s for academic or personal concerns, many students have visited the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and Office of Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) more than they can remember. The simple conversations between students and the employees of these offices may have been trivial at the beginning, but they served as the seeds to help student leaders aspire for actionable change. Beyond formation Every day, members of different student organizations enter OSA to submit paperwork or follow up on the progress of documents filed for their projects. The office ensures a smooth flow of transactions between students and the University through its strict, yet fair system for handling organizational, logistical, and financial concerns. Headed by OSA Director Tats Quiblat, the office boasts its own unique philosophy and assessment tools. To live out being #PartnersinFormation, OSA works closely with students to develop their leadership and management skills by planning, implementing, and evaluating co-curricular activities hosted by campus organizations. In return, these services educate students to be technically proficient, innovative, and passionate so they can apply the same set of values when leading and participating in organizations within and beyond the University.

With this philosophy, Quiblat launched the Student Organizations Assessment and Review (SOAR) system, which replaces the old performance management (PM) system for student groups. The PM system only focused on accrediting student organizations by following the office’s assessment guidelines. However, the new SOAR structure does not only accredit and induct existing and new groups into the Coalition of Ateneo Organizations through their PM tools. They also honor certain student groups for holistic leadership, member formation, excellent management, and positive external impact through the SOAR Model Organization award. While OSA focuses on student formation through information and evaluation, OSCI prioritizes deepening and encouraging students’ social awareness and positive involvement among marginalized communities. By utilizing service-learning as a pedagogical strategy across academic disciplines, the office promotes solidarity and advocacy work among students. From traditional immersions to relief operations and advocacy projects, OSCI has always been active in fostering cura personalis. Despite being OSCI Director for less than a year, Ophalle Alzona-Pornela has shown promising leadership in her office. As of writing, she is finalizing the updated strategic policies for immersions, engagements, and other developmental programs. She is also determining new contingency plans to address natural calamities like the dengue cases last semester and the COVID-19 pandemic. Future visions The extent of their service will continue to flourish after this year’s graduation. On Quiblat’s end, he has set

a milestone for his office called OSA 2030: Agenda of hope. This plan aims to transform systems, public spaces, and attitudes by digitizing access to org-related documents to help the office become more sustainable. By transitioning online, the office will be able to transfer more data effectively and efficiently. For Alzona-Pornela, she plans to strengthen the course integration of social development programs such as Binhi, Punla, and the National Service Training Program to different major and core curriculum courses, such as economics and theology. OSCI is also gathering information from its stakeholders to clarify how it can integrate the new curricula with these development programs. The office will then strengthen its efforts to increase awareness of the causes it advocates for by inviting student organizations to work for its partner rural and urban poor communities. This year, another batch will leave the campus to experience the unknown. What lies ahead is bold and daunting. Nevertheless, students should remember that they will always have the support of those responsible for their formation in the University. “It is not really goodbye, because they will always have a home in Ateneo,” Alonza-Pornela says. As the batch goes on to the next chapter of their lives, Quiblat advises students to strengthen their convictions as they face new challenges outside of Ateneo. He modifies Pedro Arrupe, SJ’s renowned quote, saying, “Fall in love. Stay in love. And it will design everything.”

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Andrew Puen BY DONNA RAMIREZ THE UNIVERSITY is home to many scholars, and they constitute around 18% of the Loyola Schools’ undergraduate population. Select students are granted scholarships for academic excellence, athletics, and financial aid. Moreover, many of these students are assisted by benefactors or people who give monetary support, most especially to financial aid scholars. One notable benefactor is the Ateneo Schools Parents Council (ASPAC), the first-ever association formed by parents of Loyola Schools students. Aside from supporting students financially, ASPAC also serves as an avenue where parents can participate in the educational journey and growth of students in collaboration with the school. Roots and inspirations Founded in 1985 by Raul J. Bonoan, SJ, ASPAC has already assisted around 300 scholars according to ASPAC President Andrew Puen’s estimates. In the past school year, they supported 16 scholars and are hoping to increase that number, or at the very least, maintain it. He also mentions that 90% of their scholars are from provinces. Despite the help that financial aid provides, students who live far from home still inevitably struggle with homesickness and loneliness. Thankfully, ASPAC goes beyond its financial services and recognizes its role as nurturers as well—they try to give the appropriate advice without dictating how these scholars should live their lives. Puen shares that ASPAC aims to be partners in students’ education in order to make it more meaningful, less stressful, and more rewarding for them. He adds that this idea originated from Bonoan, as he felt that parents are an integral part of a student’s education.

“So we’ve carried [Bonoan’s] tradition on. I think it’s more important now than at that time because there are so many things happening in the college student’s life,” he says. Going beyond financial aid Although most people believe that college is the best time to explore youthful independence, Puen believes that parents still play an integral role in their children’s college journeys. He says that it is actually during college when students look for role models in their parents. This philosophy is what drives ASPAC to reach out to their scholars and help them adjust to life in the University. “We not only provide funding, but we also try to meet with the scholars to guide them better, to get them more integrated. Some scholars have difficulty adjusting to a big school or a school in the city, so we try to give them advice, see where we can help them adjust,” Puen says. Aside from this, Puen emphasizes that they also make the effort to check up on the mental well-being of scholars. ASPAC sets meetings with the Residence Halls administrators, who also concern themselves with the welfare of the scholars who are living on campus, to get a clearer understanding of the scholars under their care. However, Puen admits that ASPAC still has to strengthen its efforts for scholars who live off-campus. Their goal is to establish a structure wherein they can monitor scholars who are living off-campus to ensure that these students feel they are also entitled to all the help that the school can offer.

“There’s this feeling that ‘if I’m a scholar or if I am a student of Ateneo, but I’m living off-campus, [I’m] out of the jurisdiction.’ We’re trying to show them that it’s not so much being out of jurisdiction, but you’re also still within the umbrella. You still deserve the support and whatever help Ateneo can give you,” he explains. Hope for the future It is clear that education is not accessible to everyone. Given that only a select number of individuals are able to attend school per year, Puen says that we have to face the reality that we are living in a country wherein a lot of people cannot afford quality education—and that not all those who can pay for education always value it. With this, he emphasizes the significance of scholarships and the importance of supporting students who have the desire to learn. “Scholarships are important. [They channel] resources into the hands of students who are not only deserving because they are smart but who really want it, who desire it, who will take that knowledge and do something with it,” says Puen. As for Puen and the rest of ASPAC, their deepest desire is for more schools to grant scholarships so that more students will be educated. Puen also wishes for a time when people will no longer need to resort to socialized education to gain the opportunity to learn. Perhaps in the future, with the help of school structures like ASPAC who advocate for equal access to education, those who want to learn can learn—without any adversities.

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION

Department Secretaries Always stay grounded and remember to live the virtues and values you were taught during your stay in the Ateneo. Congratulations Batch 2020 and best wishes to your next adventure! God bless.

Ma. Corina “Peachy” V. Abaño Department of Marketing and Law

I’m so happy you made it! :) I wish you all the best for the future that lies ahead. Congratulations on your graduation. Continue to soar higher.

Fritzi-Gay “Peachie” L. Reyes Department of English

Dear graduates,

To all graduates [of] Batch 2020:

On your graduation day you will make your parents proud of you, and I [was] happy, too, to assist and watch you achieve your goals.

I [shed] tears every time the graduation ceremony [nears] its end. We feel all the challenges you experience inside and out of Ateneo. When you feel alone, remember to go back. We will always be here for you. I am sincerely happy and proud of you all. Congratulations. :)

Congratulations on your journey to success and wishing you a future full of success [and] happiness. God bless you on the new chapter of life.

Cherrie May T. Montemayor Department of Modern Languages

Rosalie Mendoza Department of Finance and Accounting

Congratulations graduates of Class 2020! You’ve worked hard to achieve your goals, and now you’re on your way to seek new experiences. Embrace life with passion and keep reaching for your goals. All the best! Raquel B. Tizon Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

The Department of Information Systems and Computer Science is happy to share the excitement [for] your graduation. Congratulations to all of you and to your proud parents! Elisa S. Agbay Department of Information Systems and Computer Science

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION

Dear graduates, may you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been, the foresight to [know] where you are going, and the insight to know when you are going too far. Congratulations today and all the best for all your tomorrows! Ma. Catherine dela Cruz Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering

Congratulations, guys. Can’t wait to see where life will take you next. Wherever it is, my prayers go with you! Bisitahin [niyo] ako lagi sa dept, ha. May chat [naman] sa FB. Ingat lagi! (Visit me often in the department ha. There’s also FB chat. Take care always!) Gina B. Mamauag-Buan Department of Chemistry

Congratulations, dear Batch 2020! Despite some tough [jobs and] challenges encountered in the course of your studies, at the end of it all, you completed this part of the journey with great achievements and beautiful memories. As you leave Ateneo, expect that more challenges [will] come your way, but I strongly believe going by [the] skills, knowledge, and values imparted in you by this University, you will become successful in your own endeavors. I am honored to have served you in my own little way. I bid you farewell and wish you [the] best of luck in your days ahead. May God bless you all! Fe M. Mallillin Department of Education

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION

Maria Luz Vilches, PhD

LEADERS & ADVOCATES COMPASSION IN LEADERSHIP

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION

Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ

STAFF & ADMINISTRATION

The GUIDON Graduation Magazine 2020

Articles inside

Allan Ko

Louie Julian

Gene Unabia

Meriza Mamaril

Olivia Habana

Jiro Reyes

Trinket Canlas

Mark Joseph Calano

Rafa Chua

David Chua

Migs Villaluz

Hikaru Murakami

Laean Angeles

Aya Cabauatan

Jam Binay

Aisha Rallonza

Miko Reyes

Pao Reganit

Javi Macasaet

Raegan Gavino

Robyn Dy

Lucia Lorenzo

Lianna Lofranco

BJ Imperial

Jia Kawachi

Miguel Dobles

9

Juan Troncales

Angel de Leon

Mary Chow

Newly accredited organizations

Marga Antonio

Yumi Briones

7