The GUIDON Graduation Magazine 2013

2013
The GUIDON Graduation Magazine
2013
The GUIDON Graduation Magazine

VOLUME LXXXIII, NO. 9, FULL COLOR REVISED EDITION
Editor-in-Chief: Raymund Luther B. Aquino Associate Editor: Karissa Victoria R. Santiago Managing Editor: Alisandrea A. Coloma Design Executive Editor: Henedina Shanice A. Garcia
Writers: Jose C. Cua, J. A. de Lima, Alex P. Santiago, Dean V. Roxas, Isabelle G. Rodolfo, Louella S. Ching, Andrea S. Ang, Katerina R. Rara, Bea V. Sigua, Pia B. Guballa, Trisha C. Descallar, Tintin P. Lontoc, Paul L. Ng, Chert V. Chu Photographers: Mario T. Dagdag, Benjo T. Beringuela, Kitkat S. Lastimosa, Christella D. Soriano, Mare S. Collantes, Karen F. de la Fuente, Pia B. Guballa contributors: Alexandra L. Huang, Miguel Santiago, Joseph S. Angan, Migi Soriano, Adrian F. Begonia
Table of contents
10 13 16 22 27 32 33 42 46
Leaders Newsmakers Artists Geniuses Athletes Staff Legends-in-the-making Legends Luminaries
A message from the editor

The GUIDON is proud to present the Graduation Magazine 2013. You have in your hands the result of the efforts of twenty or so seniors from The GUIDON who found it but fitting to celebrate our graduation with a tribute to the extraordinary men and women who made our college lives unforgettable. From up-and-coming teachers to seasoned Sanggunian officers, from exceptional student-athletes to the most eminent professorsthese pages, while not at all an exhaustive listing, attempt to cast the spotlight on the people who have been special to our batch: those who have allowed us to make the most out of our college experience and inspired us to dream and live our lives in courage and love. Class of 2013, we are done, and yet we are only beginning. As we go down the hill, may the memory of the people featured in these pages remind us all of our short time here in Loyola and all the meaningful experiences we had in it. Thank you.
Luther Aquino Editor-in-Chief The GUIDON SY 2012-2013
Photo By Alexandra L. Huang
Gio Alejo
By Luther B. Aquino ONE CAN go the usual route when talking about Gio AlejoSanggunian president, health sciences superstar, cum laude standing, RIZAL STUDENT HOTNESS according to the Blue Roast Google Doc. Or one can choose to sit down with him, have a grounded conversation, and understand the man behind the reputation, underneath all the layers of (student) political baggage. (Yes, not everyone is a fan of his politics.) The man who shines through is a man of passion and idealism, of sincerity and earnestness. The sheer tenacity with which he led the Sanggunian as president ensured the survival, at least for another year, of an institution that many couldnt care less about. Perhaps, to some, it is nothing but absurdall the effort he put into an institution that many have already called irrelevant, even obsolete. For Gio, though, it was never about the certainty of achievement. In fact, the simplicity and humility of his true desire can catch the most vocal gadfly off-guardmore than anything else, he simply sought to serve the community he loves. He says, If theres one thing that I would like to be remembered [for], its me being a companion to the student body. Dont ever think well forget that for a moment, Gio. Thank you.
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The GUIDON Graduation Magazine 2013
Leaders
Toni Potenciano
By Luther B. Aquino How does one make sense of Toni Potenciano? Its hard to begin, when even she has a hard time herself. I dont think I was expecting to be classified as [a leader in the Graduation Magazine], she says. I honestly feel like, primarily, what I do is performing or hosting. [I] never expected that. Ending up in student politics partly because of her failed auditions for Bluerep back in first year, Toni is a different creature to different people. She is the SOSS chair, Crusadas (loudest) voice, one-time OrSem host, Bobby Guev A-student, Atenean activist par excellence, and, of course, all-around maganda. But nothing else sets Toni apart more than her bravery. She allowed herself to be disturbed by her education, and in fighting the good fight she has taken to heart in college, she dared to ask difficult questions on behalf of the oppressed. Thus goes one of her favorite quotes from the May 1968 protests in France: Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking. Like most Sanggunian leaders, I dont think wed leave much, she says. But Id like to hope that [someone] might say, Toni may have been crazy, but to some extent, she was rightwe cant just accept how things are. Why is Toni Potenciano a leader? Because she had the courage to be one.
Photos By Pia B. Guballa
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Photo By Kitkat S. Lastimosa
Daryl Ibasco & Betsi Siojo

By Alex P. Santiago With the Freshman Orientation Seminar and the A-Fair under their belts, Blue Roast 2013 heads Daryl Ibasco and Betsi Siojo have been a constant event tag team on campus. Ibasco and Siojo, who first met as classmates in their high school alma mater, planned their first event (a variety show) in high school and have come a long way since then. At first, it was our own personal want lang, says Siojo, a communciation major, but then we started working together and it was like, Tara, lets do this. Yun yung nag-push sa amin to decide na, Sige, lets go for Blue Roast, adds management economics major Ibasco. Their combined experience from two of the biggest events in the Ateneo have pushed them to make the graduating batchs last hurrah a huge one, with performances by Shes Only Sixteen and Sponge Cola, and, of course, the infamous blue rose ceremony. Siojo attributes their balance to time management and a clear understanding of each others quirks. Both of us kasi, were both aggressive and not aggressive at the same time, she says. Working together is a painless experience, especially since the two are close friends outside their professional tandem. Masaya, Ibasco says of their working relationship.
Photo By Mario T. Dagdag
Kat Tuason
By Kara R. Santiago I DIDNT know that I was gonna be a big part of this thing, says Kat Tuason, outgoing ARSA president, when asked about her involvement during 2012s Task Force Habagat. Although essentially part of protocol, the meeting that followed right after the disastrous Habagat rains served as the tipping point for ARSA, COA and the Sanggunian to spearhead the relief efforts of the Ateneo community. During Task Force Habagat, Tuason stressed the importance of coordinating with the different student arms and maximizing the power of social media to be able to reach out to the largest possible audience. The biggest hurdle for Tuason, however, was to manage the volunteers. Everyone was coming in, people didnt even want to leave their shifts, she explains of the influx of people coming to the covered courts. For her, this was the toughest challenge that had to be addressed during the operations. Despite the trials, Task Force Habagat was able to pull-through. When asked about what the next ARSA president should have to be able to equal this feat, Tuason simply says, Youre not just a leader eh, youre also a follower. Others might see you at the top, but youre really at the bottom. Spoken like a true leader, she ends with an insightful piece of advice: You have to listen in order to learn.
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Newsmakers
Sanggunian
By Katerina R. Rara WHEN ASKED to describe this school years recently replaced Sanggunian, former SOH Central Board Representative and newly elected Secretary-General AJ Elicao says, Its this strange, strange mix of people, but we get along. That is one way to describe the startling variety in Sanggunian officers backgrounds, as other former CB representatives, IC San Pedro of SOSS, Alvin Yllana of SOM and Nicole dela Cruz of SOSE, would agree. Throughout the ups and downs of student politics, the CB seniors have balanced work and friendship. Instead of leaving any contention at the door, they take a step further. When we go out, we talk about the issues, so the next time, theres more context, and we lobby for whats best, says Yllana. Their synergy may explain the Sanggunians success, from organizing Deans List subsidies to creating a statement on the RH bill. Also, the changes havent only gone on outside. This year, we met some indigenous peoples from Mindanao, and it changed my life, says Nicole. You need to know your batch. You need to know the pulse, the sense of when the hell weeks are, AJ says on the importance of remembering their primary role as students. At the end of the day, youre dealing with people, not only representing them in a room, San Pedro adds. Your work is not separate from how you engage with different people.
Crusada
By J. A. de Lima In the regard that it has firmly upheld its principles built on social democracy, Crusada has been consistent since its inception in 2011. Interim Premier Miguel Calayag likewise claims that the party has been doing roughly the same thing. We look at issues that ought to be talked about and should be at the attention of students who say that they are persons for others but dont talk about these issues. These issues, he says, include those that involve the employees and workers both inside and outside campuseschewing the notion of the Sanggunian as a student government limited to its relationship with the administration and student body. And thus on arguments whether to prioritize student services or national issues, party member Mark Bullo insists that the latter be the default program of action not just of the Sang-
Photo By Christella D. Soriano
gunian but of every Atenean. We should have already decided that well always prioritize national involvement over anything else, he says, citing the Anti-Apeco movement. He adds that Ateneans dont have to lobby for services which are given them in the first place. But if Crusada has been at the forefront of
these efforts, it also warrants the question: why is it then that Ateneans remain uninterested in campus politics? For Crusada Externals Secretary Julian Torcuator, it is a sad truth that has yet to be addressed, Apat na taon lang tayo sa Ateneo. After that, well be faced with, as Fr. Jett said, a world full of lies. Dapat alam natin ang totoo.
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Tricia Raya
By Jose C. Cua A CONVERSATION with two locals during an exposure trip to Casiguran, Aurora was all it took to jolt Tricia Raya into further action in response to their plight. She was struck by the weariness of the locals, who had tirelessly shared their horrific stories that came about with the construction of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (Apeco). Tricia felt that even with these locals efforts to spread awareness of their situation, barely anything was done in their defense. With this, she bestirred herself to rise up to the challenge of helping the locals in an effective way through the Ateneo Task Force Anti-Apeco. She headed this group that welcomed the locals, who marched from their hometown to Manila, when they arrived in the Ateneo. Prior to the marchers arrival, the task force had carried out various activities such as an exhibit and a prayer rally to spread awareness on campus. The political science and social sciences double major explains that she had found the concrete culmination of what she learned in theology and philosophy in the operations of the student political party Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement. Tricia admits that she had grown attached to the issue, closely monitoring the progress of events involving the Casiguran folk. Although Tricia says that she has gotten close with some of them, she thinks that one does not need to be close with them to fight for and with them.
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Newsmakers
Moses Albiento
By Bea V. Sigua I REALLY dont see myself going down the hill, because I have always been down that hill, says Moses Albiento, social sciences major and students rights advocate. Aside from being the secretary-general of the Coalition of Students Rights and Welfare, Albiento is also the chairperson of Alliance of Student Leaders and the Finance Officer of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines. Originally from Obando, Bulacan, Albiento entered the Ateneo as the only student from his high school, but he didnt find it difficult to find his place and make new friends. He eventually became active not only in the Sanggunian, but also in groups involved in relevant issues outside campus. Perhaps his biggest achievement was initiating and running the campaign of Ateneo for the RH bill. What began as an attempt to create an online campaign for the bill grew into a conversation among not only fellow Ateneans and educators, but also with lawmakers. While his achievements seem to be a mouthful, Albiento remains humble and rooted. His upbringing has pushed him to encourage fellow students to realize what they can do to help out, especially for the marginalized and the oppressed. I wanted my fellow students to see that national issues are also their issues, he says. As he pursues his dreams to be a lawyer, Albiento leaves the Ateneo with a sense of preparedness, and a desire to spark change in places where it truly matters
Photo By Karen F. De La Fuente
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Company of Ateneo Dancers

By Pia B. Guballa ANYONE WHO has attended a CADS performance knows that you can expect to be amazed by the concepts, leaps and spins by the street dancers, and be drawn in by the emotions in each jazz performance. Each dance is testament to the artistry and bond of a group of people who have grown and struggled together. Seniors Ross Tan, JC Genato and Pat Teng were all dancers together in high school for the Xavier School-based dance group, Dance X. It was a different experience working with a larger group of people, and while it was difficult to get people on the same page all the time, the bond is just as intense, Teng says. He shares that the three found themselves more as they began performing as X3, both dancing and hosting while being their kenkoy selves. Jazz division head Tin Pascua says that the best part about being jazz head was being able to have that chance to take care of your dancers and inspiring them to be the best they can be. My dancers also made me so much better a person. Tan, outgoing CADS president, affirms this bond by saying that the best part of being in CADS is being part of a family that shares the same passion as you. They look out for you and really make you feel like family. With every heartfelt performance, these CADS dancers showed us that being on the stage with one another was definitely home.
Bluerep
By Andrea S. Ang FOR BLUE Repertory, the last four years were all about direction. Company Manager Tina Ramos explains, We made it a point to really produce productions that would really be relatable and socially relevant to student. This effort to make sure theatre is not an enclosed space has the company asking itself new questions: who their target market is, what social issues theyre addressing, what kind of growth their members get from staging a certain play. From Spring Awakening to Bare, Little Shop of Horrors to Zanna Dont, Bluereps seniors have shown impressive growth in the organizations three core competencies of singing, dancing and acting. Maronne Cruzs own experience as a performer in countless plays can vouch for this. It really taught me how to adjust and also be more disciplined because theater requires a lot of adaptability. It requires a lot of patience, punctuality, perseverance, passion and research, she shares. Gabi Perez, another staple to the Bluerep cast list, reveals the secret to the companys success: never settle. Continue to explore, experiment with your acting, he emphasizes. Always be fresh with your attack and with your execution because if you become complacent, then thats when the actor dies. But if you still keep it fresh, you keep your instincts up each performance, then you know the performance will be amazing, he adds.
Photo By Pia B. Guballa
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Artists
Tanghalang Ateneo
ByJose C. Cua TO SPEAK bluntly, the Tanghalang Ateneo (TA) of previous years cannot hold a candle to this years, given that the latter has gained significant traction in the local and international theater scene. TA Company Manager Mirick Paala confirms that exactly this has been the new reputation of his organization. He is overwhelmed with joy that the likes of the Cultural Center of the Philippines took notice of their productions. Members of the organization got the chance to perform their productions, particularly Sintang Dalisay and 4Play, there. The theater companys Sintang Dalisay was recognized in the Aliw Awards, bagging Best NonMusical Production. Ricardo Abad, who is TAs moderator, was named Best Director. TA also wowed an international crowd after performing Sintang Dalisay in Belarus in July 2012. Much of the success of TA is attributed to the closeness of its members. Mirick shares that while they are undeniably serious during work hours, they spare time for leisure and play. TA for me has really been my family in school Lalo na si Sir Ricky Abad, parang tatay ko na rin yan, he adds. Mirick goes back to the hackneyed but often overlooked characteristic of a family, which has tied all TA members together. We all come from diverse fields but we are united by our love for theater.
Entablado
By Isabelle G. Rodolfo referring to a previous Organization of the Year win. This years win was only the cherry on top of Entablados 30th season. Everything seemed like a blur, and though they were pretty memorable, what stood out was the end result of our hard work, Alex Ko, who plays an active role in Entablado, shares. Mark Legaspi, Entablados president, tells us, We went through so much pressure to make a mark, [and] at the same time share our advocacy. Beyond any award, that is what Entablado would want to be remembered for: Not just for show, not just beautiful or extravagant, but productions that uphold a good advocacy. IT WAS during the intermission of Labaw Donggon when Entablado (Enterteynment para sa Tao, Bayan, Lansangan at Diyos) was announced Organization of the Year by the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo. There was no better way to finish first than smack in the middle of the companys grandest production to dateas if to showcase their winning performance and to prove how much they deserve the award. Not that it needs any proving, though. Thirdy Villarey, the organizationss VP for Secretarial Concerns, says, I really looked up to the core team when we were newbies. Now, whatever they did, we must have achieved too,
Photo By Adrian F. Begonia
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David Lina
By Paul L. Ng IF YOU had five seconds to name a random song, what would you pick? Ateneo Musicians Pool President David Lina asks this question to prove a point: most of todays music will be forgotten five to ten years from now. Why is it up to this day you still know songs such as the National Anthem? Because they last. And this is what David aspires to doto create music that will endure across generations. He made a remarkable achievement when he won recognition for music composition in the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts. But perhaps his greatest feat was during that time when the audience was singing along with him during his performance at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Despite his achievement, though, he has managed to remain down-to-earth. I dont consider myself an artist. I just want to make musicits my passion. For David, music has to be drawn from ones own experience. David shares one key advice about making music. Its something you share to others. If youre writing just for yourself, youre not going to get anywhere. While most musicians prefer to achieve fame and success, David just wants to be remembered for something he deems more important. I want to be remembered as a good husband and a good dad.
Photo By Mare S. Collantes
Mark Alcantara
By Kara R. Santiago DIRECTOR, THESPIAN, filmmaker, production manager, communication majoralbeit seemingly generic, these qualifiers are what characterize the budding success of senior Mark Alcantara. Although his name might not ring a bell in the Ateneo theatre scene just yet, he may be well on his way to basking in the spotlight. As part of the independent theatre group Shaharazade, Alcantara, together with his colleagues, aims to radically change the local theatre landscape. Sana, at some point, hindi lang maging requirement ang manuod ng plays, he explains in an interview with The GUIDON. Alcantara had quite a packed line-up during this past year. With involvements in Brian Sys thesis, Trobol sa Troya, Tanghalang Ateneos King of the Birds and Shaharazades gripping staging of Jay Crisostomo IVs Pieta, Alcantara has proven his knowledge of the intricacies of working on and offstage. Like his favorite Shakespearean play, Macbeth, he sees promoting the appreciation of art for arts sake as a challenge. However, at the same time, the thrill of evoking emotion and immediacy to an audience is what pushes him to provide an accessible avenue for people to get a hold of this aspect of culture. With a vision of introducing a wave of art renaissance in Filipino society, he ends the interview on a hopeful note, saying he wants to bring theater back to its grassroots and, through his craft, promote this gallant advocacy.
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Photo By Benjo T. Beringuela
Artists
Ateneo College Glee Club

By Louella S. Ching graced the Ateneo or this countrythey have reached other continents as well. In 2011, the choir competed in two qualifiers for the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing: One in Maribor, Slovenia and another in Varna, Bulgaria. Winning first place in the latter made them eligible for the succeeding years Grand Prix. But awards did not make them lose sight of the reasons why they were singing in the first place. We really wanted to bring attention to choral singing in the Ateneo, especially since we dont have a formal music program, says Gorby Llado, ACGCs outgoing president. We wanted people to realize that theres a choral community around and its something worth investing in. Its a way of bringing people together through music, he adds. ACGC strengthened its presence through many on- and off-campus concerts. Another milestone was set when they held Blue Harmonies: A Christmas Carolfest last December, which was the first inter-organizational choral singing competition in the Ateneo in the past years. The group may not have won the Grand Prix upon going back to Europe in 2012, but for bringing the Filipino love of music to the Ateneo and for living out magis to the country and to the world, they are nothing less than true champions. MUSIC IS the universal language of mankind, said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC) can attest to that. ACGC is the oldest university choir in the Philippines, but its performances have not only
Heights
By Alex P. Santiago Back in 2000, a college literary magazine was brought before the Supreme Court for releasing an issue centered on what was referred to as being devoid of all moral issues, vulgar, indecent, and obscene. Heights, the official student literary and artistic folio of the Ateneo, isnt aiming to be in front of a judge soon. But in the vein of departing from conformity, their 60th year pushed boundaries beyond what they had done before. This year, Heights second regular folio was centered on the theme of crassness. Heights 60th anniversary folio featured a scratch-off cover that effectively communicated their vision looking at life beyond face value, finding light in the darkness that surrounds us. Aside from its regular folios, Heights also made sure to include content for a younger audience, releasing Kwentong Pambata last December.
Photos By Mare S. Collantes
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Photos By Kitkat S. Lastimosa
Gabby Quimel
By Bea V. Sigua GABBY QUIMEL likes telling stories. But as a person who keeps mostly to himself, he finds that the best way he can truly express himself is when hes on the set, creating a film that he hopes is something his audience can both enjoy and relate to. Quimel, a communication major, found his interest in filmmaking in a high school project, where he created a short commercial with his classmates. From that simple project, hes discovered that filmmaking is something that he could do for the rest of his life. I dont see myself in anything else talaga, he shrugs. One of his biggest milestones as a filmmaker is the thesis film he produced with two fellow communication majors. The film, entitled LSS, was a documentary on contemporary Filipino music, something Quimel is also passionate about. After 16 years in the Ateneo, he has learned the most from the people he has met and got to know in school. Being a director and a cinematographer has taught him to appreciate these people better, down to the smallest details and even the most forgettable conversations. As he finally leaves the halls of the Ateneo, Quimel sees everything ahead of him with an openness that has already brought him so many opportunities to grow as a filmmaker. He doesnt have any regretsinstead, he only looks back with immense gratitude.
Michael Shimamoto
By Katerina R. Rara WITH 16 years of Ateneo education under his belt, itd be easy to think that Mike Shimamotos loyalty to the Ateneo cannot be rivaled. Unfortunately, the school does have a rival for Shims affections: music. My mom said that I started singing at three, but she didnt think it was music yet, he recalls with a laugh. But he knew he was a goner when, at 12 years old, he began singing in his church community. I felt something incredible and told myself, I need to get whatever that is. I need to participate in it. His love for music was reinforced when, in high school, he became part of Section M, an honors class filled with creative people. When Shim joined the Ateneo as a psychology major, he continued singing at masses, weddings and other events. By June 2012, he and his best friend Hero Mauricio had launched the album of Wheres The Sheep?, a praise duo signed by Viva Records. Though Shim first wanted to be a doctor, he thinks everything has worked out the way it was meant to. The more you understand what human nature is, the more my songs become real, he says. And what I love about Atenean faith is that you discover God amidst people. That grew into one big concept in methat its all about giving love, and what better way to do that than by your life?
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Artists
Pam Celeridad
By Alex P. Santiago UNLIKE MOST artists who start dreaming of blank canvases and white walls to paint on, senior information design major Pam Celeridads first preferred medium was skin. Before I wanted to be a painter, I wanted to be a tattoo artist, she says. Its this unconventional attitude towards art thats won her the first Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts recognition for painting in more than 10 years. Celeridad, who is self-taught, doesnt just limit herself to paint and a canvas; she has experimented with every possible medium in the art world, from sculptureAlthough, sobrang bano ko!to ink drawings. However, it is ink on skin that is closest to Celeridads heart. At 17, she designed her own tattoo, a tiger on the side of her abdomen. Pati yung aesthetic ng painting ko, may overlay, she says. I like putting things over things. Youre a human advertisement of your work. Despite the unconventionality of her aesthetic, she prefers traditional art methods over computergenerated work. I did try digital, pero sobrang nahihirapan ako, she says. Its convenient kasi file lang siya, pero parang iba talaga pag paper. Celeridad defies conformity. She may be a rebel at heart, but theres one barrier she has yet to break. Theres never been a female National Artist, she says, smiling, ever.
Kookie Santos & Andi Lanuza

By Shanice A. Garcia When asked to share something interesting about themselves, Kookie Santos and Andi Lanuza start talking about design pick-up linesSana brand book ka na lang, para consistent ang pagmamahal moand how design has permeated into their daily livesKaya magaling siya maghanap ng fonts kasi magaling rin siya maghanap ng mga tao, mag-stalk. This exchange only shows how art and design have already played such big roles in the lives these two artists lead. As a continuation of a love affair that has blossomed since childhood, a degree in fine arts was something they were always sure of. Despite that, they see their Ateneo experience as something that has helped them grow. With works that have been published in local dailies, handpicked for the annual Graphika Manila art books, and seen around campus as advertisements for some of Ateneos biggest events, it is not hard to see that they have truly developed. Both see the need to communicate ideaseven if they are not their ownand make people understand them as the ultimate goal in every design they make. With the rate they are going, it wont be too long for their designs to not just reach hearts but also to change the world.
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Photos By Mario T. Dagdag
Kryslette Bunyi
By Jose C. Cua INSISTING TO eat something one is allergic to may well be a perfect example of a catch-22, but somehow, Kryslette Bunyi manages whenever she buys an order of Jolllibees bangus steak. The self-admitted perfectionist surprises even her friends at times, one of the latest ones being her decision to double major in the economics honors program, which means that she will stay on through next school year to finish it. For this year, she will be marching with a degree in applied mathematics majoring in finance. Kryslette explains that her parents, both working in the banking industry, have influenced her and led her to become interested in finance. They were supportive of her studies and encouraged her to join math contests before. All these contributed to her love for the subject. Even with loads of math subjects peppered throughout her stay in the Ateneo, the math major singles out her first two philosophy classes under Manny Dy as her favorite subjects. She says that they taught her to be more critical and to understand life in a more profound way. Her dream is to be genuinely happy and to be able to help others, which is no wonder why, off the top of her head, she enumerates socially oriented institutions such as the Asian Development Bank as those she guns for in the future.
Arnold Lau
By Jose C. Cua WHILE MANY of us can easily count the As we received in college, its not particularly the case for Arnold Lau. Save for a few semesters throughout his residency in the Ateneo, Arnold assumed the highflying character of a cuatro kid. Many people have asked him not about the subjects he aced, but those that ended up as blipsa meager four subjectsin his sublime academic record. Having excelled in mathematics even before college, Arnold initially wanted to take up applied mathematics major in finance in the Ateneo. However, his Filipino teacher in high school piqued his interest in social issues. To add to that, a chance encounter with Development Studies Program Director Leland Dela Cruz, whom Arnold now considers his mentor in college, on social networking site Multiply further swayed him to pursue development studies instead. Right before officially stepping foot in the university, the merit scholar had decided to switch courses and has undoubtedly grown by leaps and bounds in school. Arnold wants to join the workforce of the government, specifically the peace process office. The soi-disant music geek admits that, in the long run, he dreams of becoming part of an internationally renowned think tank. Although nothing is absolutely sure yet, Arnold knows better than to be anticipative. After all, if there were one thing he invaluably learned from his mentor, it would be to welcome uncertainty.
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Geniuses
Dom Bulan
By Jose C. Cua LARYNGITIS MIGHT have derailed Dom Bulan from his choral involvement back in grade school, but his ever-growing passion for music got him back on track in college. The outgoing Vice President for Finance of the Ateneo College Glee Club (ACGC) confesses that the incident almost convinced him that his singing days were over. For two weeks, he could not talk and had to resort to Magic Slate, a peel-backdry erase board, to communicate with people. The tides apparently had turned when college came. His active involvement in ACGC actually brought him abroad for the first time, particularly in Europe where they competed. In fact, they went to Europe again for a second time and bagged numerous awards. Dom also shares that he has always taken interest in mathematics, which is why he took applied mathematical finance in the Ateneo. He tries to anticipate work to avoid backlog and makes study plans ahead to ensure that each of his subjects gets a fair share of his time. This true blue Ateneans motto is to work hard and be always open to learn. Indubitably, this has been shown in Doms balanced life in college, for he has made great strides in his academics and extracurriculars.
Eos Trinidad
By Jose C. Cua EOS TRINIDADS typical day already starts at four in the morning and ends at eight in the evening. He adheres to a daily routine regimented for his personal and social activities. Once he wakes up, he freshens up and studies, then he joins in the morning prayer with his fellow residents at Arvisu House where he stayed during the latter half of his college life. At night, he engages in prayer for an hour, and then goes on for socials till it is time to hit the hay. A candidate for the Society of Jesus, the interdisciplinary studies major actually discovered his special calling in and through people. Eos recalls seeing Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Eduardo Calasanz attend Mass in the morning for two days straight, which inspired him to go to Mass every day. This, coupled with his growing love for the liturgy, kept his inclination toward the priesthood aflame. His secret to academic success sounds anything but complicated: to keep everything balanced and to use time wisely. The humble Irigueo would inculcate to his Intact freshmen the value of dreaming bigwhich perhaps explains why he himself plans to pursue the noble vocation of priesthood through which he can unreservedly serve God and man.
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Photo By Mario T. Dagdag, edited By Shanice A. Garcia
Riche Lim
By Shanice A. Garcia I ALMOST got kicked out of ME [management engineering] during my first year, Riche Lim admits, kasi muntik na ako bumagsak ng Math. While he has represented the Ateneo in some of the most competitive contests in finance, passed the chartered financial analyst exam even before graduating, as well as interned for the Mitchell Madison Group, wherein he has worked with clients abroad, Riche remains humble and motivated. His being a genius is defined not just by how well he performs but also from how it stems forth from his perseverance and determination in making sure that he delivers. Keeping a QPI that is only second to one in the entire JGSOM is a feat that is almost irreconcilable with the fact that he is also active and holds executive positions in MEs home organization and Ateneo Celadon. By committing to a strict schedule of working everyday, he cites time management as what enables him to pace his academic and extracurricular work properly. His drive also comes from the good balance that his Ateneo education has provided him and the people around him that religiously follow the code of magisof excelling in action and going even farther. Never wanting to settle for second best, Riche shows how the four years of college do more than just prepare us for the world outsideit ultimately inspires and humanizes us.
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Geniuses
Alfred Marasigan
By Alex P. Santiago service-oriented, he says. Mas nag-cacater ka tangibly to a cause or an advocacy. While he wants to pursue art (and be a National Artist!) after graduation, Marasigan is choosing to stay close to home. He plans on applying for a teaching position with the Fine Arts Program, in line with a proposed move to include fine arts as a core subject for all majors. Nakuha ko [doon] yung something worth my education, he says of the Ateneos core curriculum. He views philosophy and history as his favorite subjects, and attributes most of his inspiration to these. With a promising career and more time ahead of him to chase his dreams, Marasigan has only one thing in mind to keep him motivated: Inspire and be inspired. ALFRED MARASIGAN describes himself as systematic. Its a rather surprising notion given his reputation as an artist (he won second place in the 2012 Maningning Miclat Art Competition for his painting Traverse), but this is how Marasigan worksa balance between spontaneity and discipline that has made him into an artistic (and academic) success. Aside from being shortlisted for valedictorian and having his thesis, Historiles, featured on several news outlets, Marasigan also recently won the Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts recognition for graphic design, a medium he started to explore in college as an information design major. Mas inclined ako sa art, but [I guess] design is more
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Ray Pine
By Katerina R. Rara THE LAST thing you would expect to hear from Ray is that hes unhingedthe word he would use to describe the person hes become over the past years. But he understands the word more positively. Entering Ateneo High School from Nueva Ecija, Ray was embarrassed by his thick accent. English was my second language, he laughs, adding, Adolescent boys arent the most understanding human beings. Instead of folding, he responded by joining the debate teamthe start of a promising career.
Yna Sta. Maria

By Katerina R. Rara Hispanic Studies, too. Unlike the mass of students who take notes first and figure them out later, Yna went through classes focused. When I would go to class, I would sit right up in front and give my prof 110%. Id ask my seatmates not to talk to me, she laughs. Then, no longer needing to review, she had enough time to spend with her friends and org mates. But though Yna is known for her brains, what defines the future therapist is her heart. The one reason I excelled is that I am so passionate about what I got myself into, she says. Psych is not only a discovery of others; its also a discovery of the self. And she would know. She knows it best, after all. ONE THING about Yna is that she has made huge strides throughout her lifeoften literally. When she was 12 years old, her family made the big move from Iligan, Mindanao to Laguna. There, she became a student representative of her high school, De La Salle Canlubang. Entering college in 2008 was a new experience. I stepped into Ateneo very uncertain about myself, she says. But soon she was a top student and an active member of Ateneo Psyche and the Ateneo College Ministry Group. She also was one of the first psychology majors to go on JTA, and when problems with her IPS arose, she chose to extend a yearand to minor in
In college, Ray was flexible, briefly shifting into mathematics from management engineering. Though he liked the former, his return to ME had to do with more than academics. The ME support group is great, he says, and I wanted to be with them again. Upon his return, Ray moved from debating to adjudicating, and did so in competitions, including the World Universities Debate Championship. He also joined business competitions, recently winning the International Institute for Business Development Case Competition with his team. He was awarded Best Presenter as well. That is where being unhinged comes in. Its literally for you to empty yourself, take the risk, he says. When you try to risk yourself, you find and appreciate the beauty of companions, friends, and your hope and faith in God as well.
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Sports
Blue Batters
By Isabelle G. Rodolfo No one forgets their firsts, and the Blue Batters first glorious championship is for the books. Although there is no contest that achievement runs in the veins of the blueblooded, this flag on top of another mountain stands out in particular because of the climb. Bocc Bernardo says, We would have made back-to-back by now, but it fell short. Now here [came] another threat: that we had to go all the way to game three to win [a championship.] The agony of the previous year was a low point that made this years win much more of a triumph. Ive experienced everything from the highest of highs to the lowest of the lows To be able to come back and work hard for everything is pretty satisfying, and pretty unbelievable, says outgoing captain Gab Bagamasbad. Aside from the fact that this batch of the Blue Batters won the first first, Bernardo says its all because they are 18 men deep, adding, Were not a bunch of nine players who are good, with the other nine for display. Anyone can start, anyone can finish. Thats how strong were supposed to be. It has been a good year for the Blue and White, but why do the Blue Batters stand out, exactly? Bagamasbad says: We made history.
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Adel Barlisan
By Dean V. Roxas Brains and brawnsits pretty rare to see the two together in an athlete, but this is how a lot of his peers see Blue Tankers team captain Adel Karlo Barlisan. Being an elite swimmer in the UAAP explains the brawns aspect, but the brains come in the form of a degree in health sciences, a pre-med course. The 21-year old balances time-consuming subjects like biology and physics laboratory sessions with two one-to-two hour training sessions each dayand you have to wonder how he does it. Apart from breaking the athlete stereotype, he was also pivotal in the Blue Tankers defining moment last season 75: winning their first ever UAAP Swimming Championship. In his 13-year swimming career, Barlisan always had a knack for leading and for pushing his teammates in training and during competition. The preparation for season 75 was no different, as he gave up training with his Valle Verde club in order to help prepare his fellow Blue Tankers for war. This mindset paid dividends as the team bagged the elusive crown after so many runner-up finishes. Once he took over the role of team captain, he imprinted his own brand of leadership, which definitely contributed to the teams success. Barlisan leads by example and sums up his role in one quote: First in training, last one out.
Miguel Sibayan
By Chert V. Chu After four years of playing in the UAAP, Miguel Sibayans supersenior year marked his last chance of representing the track and field team of Ateneo. During the UAAP competition this season, Sibayan smashed his personal best in his first throw in the mens javelin, winning him the gold medal for the event. The same goes for the mens discus throw, snagging him his second gold medal for the season. It was indeed a magnificent feat to end his five years of stay in the Loyola Schools. Sibayan suffered from elbow and heel injuries during the early part of the season. A common challenge that is faced by almost every athlete, this delayed him from joining the rest of his teammates during their conditioning program. However, Sibayan says, What made me bounce back was the support of my teammatesthat as a supersenior, I have the responsibility to push myself and make an impact to the team, especially to rookies who will also lead the team in the future. Clearly, this year wasnt easy for Sibayan when it comes to bagging medals, but in line with the nature of the sport, he always attempted to surpass his best in every game. He would always do more than what was expected of him, living by the word magis.
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Sports
Photos By Christella D. Soriano
Toby Gadi
By Dean V. Roxas One and six. Numbers are enough to describe who this athlete is in the world of badminton in the Philippines. Antonino Benjamin Velarde Gadi, commonly known as Toby Gadi, has been the number one-ranked mens singles badminton player in the country for six consecutive years. Whenever opposing teams would see Gadis name in the brackets prior to a tournament, they know that they are in for a tough match against the countrys best shuttler. Gadi proved this time and time again and was one of the key ingredients in the Blue Shuttlers stellar Season 74 campaign that led them to capture their first championship since the early 2000s. This season, however, they fell short of repeating the feat, but Gadi and his boys nevertheless played with all their hearts. Outside of the UAAP, he continued his flawless singles play by topping two Pbars tourneys in 2012. The 23-year-old has yet to lose a singles match since 2006. His impressive unbeaten streak only goes to show why he has represented the country in several international tournaments and why he is a mainstay in the national team. Off the court, Gadi describes himself as an outgoing and even goofy character. Nonetheless, he put it perfectly into words as to why he is so successful on the court: I choose not to give up; its always easy to quit but I choose not to.
Cess Trinidad
By Chert V. Chu that she had to focus more on herself and thus joined the track team this year. She says, The difference between team sport and individual sport is that I get to focus more on myself [in individual sport]. In football, I know I have my team mates to back me up during the game, while in track, its just me and the javelin or pole. After her experience in individual sport, her coaches in football convinced her to give football another shot. It turned out a good season for football this year because everybody improved and there is greater chemistry. As such, this year, Trinidad conquered both team sport and individual sport. Indeed, she simply appreciates the joy that sports bring to her and embraces the challenges that come with it. Even with a seemingly faltering passion for football and the need to adjust to her newfound sport, track and field, Trinidad doubtlessly displayed the character of perseverance and flexibility. Bringing home a number of medals from track and field competitions and being able to play with the Ateneo womens football team, Cess Trinidad had a great year during her last year of stay in the Ateneo. An unexpected turn of events occurred following the discontent surrounding Trinidads performances early in the season. She realized
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Lady Spikers
By J. A. de Lima athletes of the Ateneo, they have received an overwhelming kind of support even from many non-Ateneans. These years also had stories of people coming from different places who share a deep sense of gratitude for the Lady Spikers. For these people, the Lady Spikers inspired others in many ways that the players might not have been aware of. Masarap talaga na feeling yung nakaka-inspire ka ng ibang tao, says Nacachi, recalling moments when fans would come to them to express support. We have these five ladies to thank for as they proudly ended their collegiate athletic careers knowing that, together with a great team and coaching staff, they made a big difference for the future of Philippine volleyball. For the thousands of avid fans, it may have been difficult at first to accept Ateneos defeat under archrival De La Salle University for two years in a row in the UAAP womens volleyball division. It was painful to think that our Lady Spikers werent able to bag the championship they still havent experienced. Moreover, this year also saw the veterans play in the league for the last time: Fille Cainglet, Jem Ferrer, Dzi Gervacio, Gretchen Ho and Aillysse Nachachi. Looking back, however, that final game was one of those instances when winning was not everything. What we, the FAB5, did was something beyond winning pa eh, shares Cainglet. Throughout their playing years as
Blue Booters
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Sports
Blue Eagles
Five-peat champions 31
staff
Alma Fermano
By Pia B. Guballa ATE ALMAS graduation magazine shoot began 15 minutes after the originally planned time. There were two reasons for this. First, she made sure to finish photocopying the readings of the remaining underclassmen who needed them for finals. Second, because she insisted on going to all of the seniors she would be posing with that afternoon, to give them a hug, make them promise to give her a graduation picture (Kasi pagpapartnerpartnerin ko kayo lahat!) and to tell them each, Alam mo pangga, ma-mimiss kita! Ate Alma, whose photocopying kiosk in SEC-B is often the favorite of students and teachers alike, has provided much more than photocopied readings and notes or the occasional handful of Potchi or chocnut. Her sweet Magandang
umaga, pangga! makes coming to a laboratory in the SEC area so much more bearable at 7:30 AM in the morning. Bored while waiting for your readings to finish? You wont need to look for a friend to talk to because Ate Alma will surely ask you about your love lifeand yes, she remembers who youve dated. Late at night, when youre walking past
the area to study in Matteo or get picked up in JSEC, sometimes the only distinct whir you hear is the sound of her photocopy machine, where she often works beyond its usual operating hours, just to finish everything the students need for the next morning. Although we may be Ate Almas pangga, or favorite, she, in turn, will always be ours, too.
Jhong Siguenza
By Chert V. Chu MANG JHONG has been serving the Loyola Schools and its students for quite some time now. Students would always spot him at the Loyola Schools swimming pool because hes the one responsible for making it one of the cleanest swimming pools in Metro Manila. He arrives in school before six in the morning as he opens the pool for Jesuits, the faculty and students. If only a lot of people knew how public pools are maintained, then one would truly appreciate the work of Mang Jhong and how earnest he is in performing his duties for all the members of the Ateneo community. Aside from the work he does, Mang Jhong also engages in triathlon events. Sometimes, he would bring his bike to school. While most people ride mountain bikes, Mang Jhong has a road bike, which is more capable of speed. Along with other members of the faculty and staff such as Tom dela Cruz and Theology Department faculty member Rodel Crisostomo, he rides his bike back and forth from Commonwealth to Timberland where bikers usually train. Although his white hair can be deceiving, Mang Jhong, who is in his mid-forties, is as healthy and as strong as the swimmers and runners on campus. Though very strict with campus rules, Mang Jhong is actually friendly when you get the chance to know him more.
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Legends-in-the-making
Leloy Claudio
By Andrea S. Ang LELOY CLAUDIO seems to revel in his own paradox: he comes to the interview in a shortsleeved white button-down sprinkled with small sailboats, and shares in his signature deadpan how he writes long, boring articles of a minimum 10,000 words as an academic. The balance of academic rigor with refreshing candor is Claudios hallmarkbarely pushing 30, the political science and history teachers references run from despised senators to Taylor Swift, and the 2008 US financial crisis to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It definitely keeps his students engaged: Sometimes I joke that I dont maintain a blog, so my classroom becomes my blog, he explains of his no-PowerPoint rule. Its always very conversational. Claudio doesnt bank on age, however. His efforts to bring his broader world pursuits, such as The Manila Review, a convergence point for critical discussion of academic and literary publishing, back to the classroom ground theory in relevance. Its this treatment of life in the Ateneo as one that reflects life outside of it that Claudio wants to emphasize to his students: The complexity of human life is actually represented by literature, by ideas, by philosophy and things like thatsomething you get in the university.
RR Raeses
By J. A. de Lima In the past two years, RR Raeses says he began to build better relationships with his students. I started hanging out with students. And learning about their own personal experiences and problems, I realized each student has a distinct struggle, a distinct encounter, he shares. Perhaps the significance in knowing this comes from the fact that he used to be greatly feared by many Ateneans in his first years of teaching political science, when he would readily yell at his class when students dont recite. While Raeses definitely continues to uphold the high standards he demands in his classes, like paper requirements that should meet what he calls global benchmarks in the scholarly sense, he admits that coming off as very intimidating was something that did not work well for the kind of citizens he wanted his students to be in the long run. I realized that somehow the posture of being scary and all that performance can actually turn off people rather than empower them. It can actually disempower them, he explains. It makes more sense, though, when Raeses attributes this to being insecure himself, in the sense that he had to assert his authority. But, at least for now, what matters are the meaningful friendships he currently has with his students and the trust he has gained from thema kind of dynamic he guesses he got accustomed to as he grew into the profession.
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Photo By pia b. guballa
Aris Atienza
By Luther B. Aquino ITS NOT always easy to understand the relevance of Ateneo core subjects to our actual lives. For the most coo among us, its especially difficult to see the point of nine units of Filipino. But to Aris Atienza of the Filipino Department, the answer is commonsensical. Indeed, how can a good education in Filipino not be relevant when Filipino is the language of the streets? It is
Brian Giron
By Louella S. Ching FOR THOSE who never had reason to love history, you will find plenty in Girons classes, especially if youre a fan of Star Wars, Batman, Pale Pilsen, the zombie apocalypse, computers or even penguins. Beyond that, however, what will really glue you to your seats in his classes are the ways he tells our countrys stories. Instead of quizzes, he will size you up through rigorous debates and a photo project. Aside from his lectures, he will urge you to seek primary sources to better understand Martial Law. Rather than memorizing, he will ask you to spot the flaws in the United States agenda of Benevolent Assimilation instead. He will convince you that this country cannot move forward if we do not look back, or if we choose to forget. I want them to remember that I taught them how to think for themselves, he says. He will also say that he doesnt care about his students, but then again, he also said never to blindly believe in anything anyone tells you. After all, he did show a modicum of concern by reminding the seniors of the necessity to purge their inconsistencies. You shouldnt waste time, but time isnt wasted when youre sorting things out. Above all, if you never had reason to believe that
the best years of our country lie ahead or that we are the greatest nation in the world, then let Giron harness the power of our beautiful and wonderful history to show you otherwise.
We fight for the right things. And thats the kind of shit that make up a really awesome country.
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D. M. Reyes
By J. A. de Lima precisely this grounding in local realityin pop culture, in media trends, in national heritage that animates Sir Aris Filipino 12 classes and imbue them with much relevance to our lives. Sinasabi ko rin [sa mga estudyante ko] na walang pagkakaiba ang school at saka yung paglabas, he says. Sa school pa lang, ito na yung mundo talaga na maaari nilang makita sa labas. As such, something he wants his students to take from his classes is critical thinking. Especially kung pop culturekasi, consume tayo nang consume ng pop culture, he says. Huwag maliitin palagi yung mga kulturang popular, kasi, sa isang banda, [ipinapakita nito na] bahagi ka sa mas nakararami, pero sa kabilang banda, kinakailangang kritikal ka pa rin dun sa pop culture. His point, perhaps, is that in his class, the reading assignments were never just about reading the textsthey were about reading our very lives. Over the course of his teaching career, one thing that has not changed, shares Danilo Francisco M. Reyes, or D. M. Reyes as he is commonly known, is his wish to inspire his students. Ive always wanted my students to take something, if not useful, something memorable from my class. True enough, the most cherished memories he has had as a professor were those instances when former students later on told him that they learned something from his literature classes. For him, this signifies a genuine kind of learning. I think it makes a whole lot of difference because of the weight of experience, the years of reflection that accompanied that, notes Reyes. Whether he knows it or not, Reyes possesses the natural ability to embed special nuggets of life-changing lessons in his discussionsbe it on poetry or prosethat move his students hearts in one way or another. This has even gone beyond the classroom, as a parody Twitter account sharing some of his quotes was even put up, presumably by some of his students. Drawing from the Jesuits, Reyes says he abides by the dictum of beginning with a short principle and giving many examples, which indeed is evident in the way he teaches literature. If you see dimensions of the theoretical, the abstract, the philosophical in the everyday things that you do, then I think there are no gaps in your apprehensions of the world. It is experience in perfect amity, he opines.
Ambeth Ocampo
By Andrea S. Ang THEY CALL it The Ambeth Ocampo Experience. Historian and author Ambeth Ocampos presence is always eagerly awaited on campus. Slots for his classes disappear in seconds during enlistment, despite Ocampos own warning: Students expect the unexpected, and know that a grade does not truly reflect what you learn in school. The pioneer of a show, dont tell method of relating history, Ocampo offers a fresh perspective on the history you only think you know. He brings to the classroom not only his experiences in teaching and research, but a searing wit that qualifies the pasts relevance in the present. History may seem useless in itself like algebra or geometry, he shares, but it trains the mind to think, trains the heart to feel so that the past can be a way to understand the present and meet the uncertain future.
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Joed Tirol
By Bea V. Sigua AFTER 16 years of teaching in the Ateneo, Joed Tirol jokes that hes stuck to the job because he has three kids to send to college, and he wants the tuition discount that working in school warrants him. By the time my last kid finishes college, Ill be 59, so what the heck, he laughs. He immediately recants, however. On a more serious level, teaching is therapeutic. Its not a job to me. Tirol describes himself as an introvert, scared of crowds and audiences. But hes at most ease when hes teaching, where hes able to express himself and his values the best way he knows. Recovering from flu and powering through his classes with a lot of paracetamol, Tirol says that the worst thing about teaching is when hes so tired, yet he still has to keep going. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak, he quips. However, he comforts himself by saying that theres always the next semester to do better. This piercing yet astute honesty is what makes Tirol an outstanding history teacher. The worst way to teach [history] is to teach it like a subject, he says. To Tirol, history is not something you memorize. To him, its a story that each and all of us can find a connection with. Ultimately, he wants his students to realize that they all have their own roles to play. No matter how big, no matter how small, everything you do or not do makes a difference.
Michael Liberatore
By Luther B. Aquino ITS AN oddity that he never fails to point out himselfStupid white guy, he mutters, chuckling self-deprecatingly when asked what brought him from the United States to local shores. But give Michael Liberatore a few more minutes to talk, and youll hear a nice, charming story involving romance and happy accidents. He went to Guam 12 years ago as a member of the Jesuit Volunteers International, and it was there that he met his Filipina wife. When we decided to get married, one of our questions was, Where are we called? The more we prayed about it the more we felt that maybe the call was to come this way. Its been quite a journey for him since then. Liberatores Theology 141 classes are now among the most popular for the subject, perhaps next only to Bobby Guevs, who he considers a mentor. If theres anything he wants students to take from his classes, its that the reality in which we live, the life that we lead, is not the totality of our existence. Theology 141 talks about the unity of temporal liberation and evangelization in the work of the faith. This is something that manifests even in the way Liberatore lives his life. To his students, it shines through in every lecture: his vocation is an acknowledgment of what he calls, quoting Karl Rahner, the infinite mystery that envelops our existence.
Photo By pia b. guballa
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Vene Rallonza
By J. A. de Lima WHILE IT could be said that every individual is a distinct human being, Vene (pronounced: vene) Rallonza is just remarkably different. Students in general recognize her to be this bald political science professor with tattoos all over her body, but such is in fact a telling bodily expression of what Rallonza believes in and upholds without hesitation when interacting with whomever she encounters. In light of what to her seems to be an unfathomably violent patriarchal society, she says that she is inherently a feminist, and that she takes a lot of sexist antics seriously. And that is something that is non-negotiable for me. Hindi ko pa kilala si peminismo as a school of thought or as a tool for critical analysis, isinasabuhay ko na pala, she recalls about her college days in UP Diliman, where she had the chance to lead one of the universitys progressive sororities. In the Ateneo, where she has taught since 1997, Rallonza continues to advance her advocacies by teaching courses on womens rights and inspiring students to reflect on matters pertaining to politics at the margins, the latter being an elective which students appreciate for its unique experiential pedagogy. For Rallonza, it is ultimately her way of pushing Ateneans towards having a more active and critical political involvement.
Jethro Tenorio
By J. A. de Lima remembers how his grandmother even wanted him to become the pope. Feeling ko hanggang ngayon may calling pa rin ako, he quite seriously notes. But with the influence of his professors as a college student in the Ateneo, such as Jerry Respeto and Alvin Yapan, Tenorio decided to teach Filipino instead. College, after all, was also MAPALAD YATA ako kasi maaga pa lang sa buhay ay alam ko na ang mga gusto kong gawin. Gusto ko talagang magturo, shares Jethro Tenorio of the Filipino Department. But it will perhaps be to the surprise of many to know that he first aspired to be a religion teacher or, to makes things more complicated, a priest. He
where he thought he was really able to connect the dots as to the path he was taking, starting from when he joined Entablado in sophomore year. Doon na nagbago ang mga bagay-bagay, dahil doon nagstart yung AB Org, minor in Comm nung college, he jokes. Today, he maintains his affiliation with the socially oriented theater organization by being its active moderator. Furthermore, Tenorio is undeniably identified as among the Ateneos popular professors. He thinks this is widely because he keeps his classes as alive and spontaneous as they could get, marked by the deep sense of appreciation for our own literature that every Filipino should have.
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Photo By Miguel S. Santiago
Jope Guevara
By Luther B. Aquino new students? His fears are understandable. Hes a perfectionist, and that has perhaps shown in the fact that his Philosophy 101-102 classes are among the most popular for juniors. When one already has such a good a grasp of things, its difficult to let go and believe that he will ever really have the same grasp again. Its amusing that Sir Jope is saying these things because we never really expect to find ourselves in the same boat as our teachersright now, as fresh graduates, were also getting bombarded with all sorts of worries and fears. But we are all human, and the wisdom in his words for the graduates apply as much for him as it does for us: Tuluy-tuloy lang, even if the road ahead will be difficult, and parang madilim na ang lahat. Whats important is that you still do what you have to do. JOPE GUEVARA is worried. Hes going to be on teaching hiatus next year to work on his PhD dissertation. Excited as he is, it will be the first time in 13 years that he wont have a teaching load. Im excited because I can start on the dissertation, but at the same time, Im scared, because, fast-forwarding to the future, I dont know [whether] if and when I return, I [will] still know how to teach, he says. Will I still be the same Jope? Will I still be accepted by my future students? [Its] scary, because, of course, when you experience new things, it adds on to your person, he explains. I will be a different person. Will that new person still be accepted by my
Roy Tolentino
By Luther B. Aquino Sometimes, the joy of philosophical reflection lies in its ability to offer someone a new lens with which to see the world, for a vision more receptive to the wonder that radiates from the seemingly ordinary. Roy Tolentino, then, must have reflected much on his experiences with his students, because he does not just see the process of growth they undergo for a school year as the monotonous daily grind it might look like up close. To him, the process is nothing short of a miracle. I think the most meaningful experience for me is to witness, especially in Philo 101-102, how your students grow over the course of a year, he shares. What emerges, especially at the end of the year, is something altogether miraculous. Something happens to them. Whether you had a part to play in that or not, its still a privilege to witness it.
In his classes, this growth takes the form of growth in humility and responsibility. The point of my class is for students to get a sense of humility, on the one hand, before the wonder that is our world and our existence... But at the same time, what we do matters, and therefore, we are also responsible for whatever we do.
What Tolentino teaches seems to be an art of living that is difficult to perfectbut perhaps to pursue perfection is, in this case, to miss the point. Learn to take yourselves seriously enough to be responsible, he tells the graduating batch, but not so seriously that you feel burdened by everything that you have to do in the future.
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Photo By mare S. Collantes
Chay Hofilea
By Alex P. Santiago NOTHING GIVES teachers more pride than seeing their students as successful practitioners of their chosen fields. In Chay Hofileas case, they eventually become colleagues. Aside from teaching news writing and investigative journalism, Hofilea acts as online news site Rapplers News, Citizen Journalism & Community Engagement Director. Teaching, however, is her first loveparticularly molding the minds of aspiring journalists. If you work with college kids, theyre very malleable, she says. I think the potential to influence them is stronger. With former students such as Rappler reporter Paterno Esmaquel and ABS-CBN reporters Jeff Canoy and Ryan Chua, nothing gives Hofilea more fulfillment than seeing former students live out the things they had learned from the classroom. It tells me how old I am! she laughs. Journalism is a field that subjects one to a baptism of fire, with Hofilea sending out her students on immersions with actual practitioners. Not only does this prepare them for a life on the field, but eventual employment as well. The profession will be in constant need of fresh and young blood, she says. They end up asking me, Sino yung mga dati mong student na pwedeng i-hire?
JC Uy
By Bea V. Sigua AT FIRST glance, JC Uy seems to be very young. One can even mistake him for a student as he travels around campus on his bicycle. But as he ends his eighth year of teaching philosophy in the Ateneo, he proves that while hes only 30 years oldyoung compared to his esteemed colleagues in the Philosophy Departmenthes wise way beyond his years. While hes built a certain reputation over the course of his teaching, Uy remains to be very amicable and approachable. Contrary to what the enlistment rumors say about him, hes neither terrifying nor punishing. Instead, he makes pop culture references in class, relating points of St. Anselm to the journey of the hobbits to
Mordor. He doesnt hesitate to reach out to his students, helping them both in and out of class. Uy says that one of the best things about teaching is that his students eventually become his friends. He sees the trust that his students give him as a way to show them that philosophy is not only an intellectual activity, but also an experience of learning how to love. And if his students were to learn one thing from him, it can be summed up by these simple words: Do not be afraid.
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Ron Cruz
By Tintin P. Lontoc TO MANY students, Ron Cruz is the science teacher with a penchant for pop culture. At 31 years old, Cruz has 10 years of teaching under his belt, is an internationally published speculative fiction author, founder and moderator of the Ateneo Biological Organization, a noted keen predictor of Oscar victors, and a student favorite. When informed about his legend-in-the-making status, his initial response is, How? It may have something to do with his uncanny way of getting a class to appreciate the subject matter that is, his knack for injecting his film knowhow into the otherwise routine science course. Nevertheless, while film and pop culture trivia have become staples of his Science and Society lectures, he has since then developed a class that heavily involves sci-fi and practical sci-
ence beyond the odd bonus quiz item here and there. Cruz is the brains behind the inventive and relatively novel Biology in Science Fiction course, where the film buff gets to flex his creative muscles. The first of its kind, the class integrates liter-
ary and film analyses with biologytwo of his favorite things. Cruzs novel efforta triumph in what looks to be a long, exciting career ahead might not be the last. Whats next? I would like to develop a course in biology of horror films.
of teaching often catches students off-guard. This is not your typical high school Christian Living class where you are graded on the basis of how many saints you can name. With his flavor-changing e-cigarette in one hand and the other free for the occasionally drawn artistic doodle analogy, Aguas introduces ideas that can blow your mind. Hell encourage you to think critically in class about contemporary issues such as homosexuality, the possibility of women priests, reproductive health, and advances in science and technology. Hell introduce you to the coolest guy in all of history, Jesus of Nazareth, and show you why youd want to be just like him. Aguas ends his classes with a simple question: Still cute? Getting cuter every day? With beaming smiles and ultimately a renewed call to do all things in the spirit of splagchnizomai, his students leave his classes with a renewed understanding of what it means to be Christian.
Ray Aguas
By Pia B. Guballa FIRST RULE in his class: call him Ray. Not Sir Ray, not Sir Aguas, not Dr. Ray, not Dr. Aguas. Just, Ray. Calling him anything other than his name, he
Photo courtesy of Migi s. Soriano
says, commands that you give him respect for the titles or positions he holds, and not for his being a person. It is this same respect (and love) he will inspire you to haveafter one semester in his theology classfor everyone who comes into your life. His amusing, frank, and straightforward manner
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ing his graduate studies. I was writing my thesis. And I was having difficultymy ideas couldnt move. So one day I was riding the bus, sabi ko, Shet, I miss Ateneo. And so he went back, and it was a summer he will remember for the rest of his life. For Lizada, the Ateneo allows one to have more meaningful ways of perceiving and experiencing the world. He recalls at once that apart from the classes he took, studying as a dormer also deepened his sense of belonging to the Ateneo. Its really about where I grew upaway from the comforts of my parents Its really where I found myself. Returning to teach full load in 2011, Lizadas fervor to finally be of full service to the Ateneo also gave birth to the viral Overheard at the Ateneo de Manila Facebook pagewhich is now also on Twitterwhich has become every Ateneans favorite pastime at least once in their college life. More than that, however, Lizadas love for the school has been consistently reciprocated by the widespread appreciation students have for him, young as he is in his career. For me, its just a matter of enjoying what I do. Its really giving your all I just want to be a good teacher.
Wilson Gan
By Andrea S. Ang Wilson Gan has a way of making things unforgettable. Be it marketing or operations management or decision analysis, when you leave his classroom, his lectures tend to follow you around. Why? Gan litters his lectures with interesting anecdotes collected over the years, weighing out heavier concepts with real-life application. He is in his element when putting a qualitative spin on quantitative subjects, keeping the class not only engaged, but curious. Most recently, the former operations manager of Red Ribbon told me an interesting operations supply chain story, he shares excitedly. Right after talking to that person, I immediately went to my computer, opened up Evernote, and typed all of the key facts kasi I told myself I have to share this interesting story. Gans style of tackling challenging subject matter from a practical, relatable point of view translates even outside the classroom. He implores, Embrace challenges in life. As my own experience taught me, its those challenges in life that will help you to learn the mostand its the challenges in life that will also make you realize your full potential.
Migoy Lizada
By J. A. de Lima One just couldnt help but love the Ateneo. This pretty much summarizes Miguel Lizadas profound attachment to the university, which clearly showed when he found himself going back to Katipunan to teach literature for one summer while he was still in Singapore finish-
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Fr. Adolfo Dacanay, SJ

By Luther B. Aquino WHEN FR. Adolfo Dacanay, SJ walks into the classroom for the first time, he will strike terror into your heart. What in the world did I get myself into, you will ask yourself. If you are particularly unlucky, you will get shouted at at one point in the semester, in which case having an extra pair of pants might prove invaluable. Truth be told, if you took Dacanay for Theology 131, you probably made that choice in full freedom. You might question your own sanity because of that, but when the semester finally ends, you realizeall those Fs in the quizzes and the stare that almost killed you during orals? It was all worth it. All this amuses Dacanay. On the one hand, this legend [talk], I think its overblown, he says. On the other hand, it helps Like, they say, terror or something. [As a result,] I dont have to do anything or say anything in class. Most people have to repeat: I mean this!
Benjamin Tolosa
By J. A. de Lima If there is one person from the faculty who was able to make the most significant contributions to framing political issues and social realities in the countryand that includes the Ateneo de Manila as wellit would be no less than Benjamin Tolosa of the Political Science Department. Tolosa says that part of his project as an educator is the value he gives to developing perspectives for a deeper understanding of social phenomena. Since we are in a university context I think we do have that opportunity to step back and ask critical questions: How has this come to be? What is holding it together? Can it be otherwise? It was Tolosa, after all, who introduced critical constructivism to his department when he came back in 2001 from his doctorate studies at the University of Minnesota under the guidance and mentorship of esteemed political scientists, such as Raymond Duvall and Kathryn Sikkink. He has been teaching in the Ateneo since 1983for 30 years nowa stint that has seen from him prolific output, such as key contributions to Down from the Hill: Ateneo de Manila In the First Ten Years Under Martial Law, 1971-1982, Agenda for Hope, and SocDem, and other efforts in mapping the political landscape of the Philippines with a focus on Ateneo history in the context of Martial Law. His influence is also well found in the young minds of Ateneans he has taught, such as Risa Hontiveros, Manoling Francisco and Erin Taada.
Whether its due to his forceful delivery or his high standards, the lessons you learn from him stick for life. And rightfully so; as he says, Being a member of the Church is not enoughyou have to be a responsible and mature member of the Church. That is why I always say: Be critical! Think! he explains. Genuine faith, the truth of our faith, should in no way be in conflictand it cannot be in conflictwith other truths that we find in other disciplines. Dacanays reminder to graduates about Christian living is, in fact, very simple: were adults now, and we need to do justice to that fact.
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Legends
Eduardo Calasanz
By Luther B. Aquino HE WILL probably deny it, but most of the horror stories surrounding Eduardo Eddieboy Calasanzs Philosophy 103 classes are true. Some memories will be particularly unforgettable: the distinct achievement called Olympic Rings (a string of zeroes in the prelectio quizzes), the kare-kare and bagoong metaphor, and the exams that are supposedly due at 9:00 PM butsince Calasanz is benevolentare required for submission at the LST by 12:00 AM instead, yet are actually turned in by many students at around 3:00 AM. Its still in the classroom, though, that his students have their most unforgettable memories of him. The journey that Calasanz takes his classes on every semester is a life-changing one. It leaves students restlessshocked by their own idolatries, shaken by their lifes uncertainties, and surprised by the grace that has been taken for granted. There is a reason why Calasanz always compares faith to romantic love God, like your lover, will always find a way to surprise you, showing you that He is always beyond your comprehension. But this shouldnt mean despair. In fact, if theres anything Calasanz wants Ateneans to take from their education, its a sense of gifta sense of the gift you have received and a sense of the gift that you are asked to share with others. He reminds the graduating batch, Perhaps the most important things that have happened to you, the most important things that you have, the most important things that you arethey have been gifts. Indeed, it is precisely this sense of gift that will allow us to live our lives in joyful hope.
Roberto Guevara
By Luther B. Aquino FOR THOSE who had been lucky enough to take Theology 141 under Roberto Guevara, commonly known as Bobby Guev, during the one semester he taught this school year, the experience was nothing short of life-changing. His course on liberation theology was a struggle not primarily because of the challenging requirements, but because it opened his students eyes to the grim realities of the world: social injustice, systematic oppression, the marginalization of people dearly beloved to God. The question the course eventually posed to us radically altered the lives of not a few studentsin the face of so much suffering among our fellow human beings, will we not awaken from our sleep of inhumanity? It was a call to actionindeed, the task of evangelization has to come with the task of temporal liberation, a struggle against the structures of sin that crucify the peoples of the world. In this way, the disturbing realization came to us, daunting us, perhaps taking us much too far from our comfort zones: Masarap maging Atenista dahil masakit maging Atenista. The injustice of the world can bring anyone to despair, but Guevara struggled with us in courage and hope. If you want to live in mediocrity, live in fear, he said with resolve. Ultimately, what Guevara did was to show us that the only answer to the outrage of our times is the audacity of love, in imitation of the Father who loved us first.
Photo courtesy of Joseph S. Angan
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Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng

By Jose C. Cua STUDENTS OF the graduating batch this year may remember Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng for two completely opposite reasons. Some might know her as the former Vice President for the Loyola Schools who ruled with an iron fist when it came to suspension of classes during inclement weather, while others might recall that she was also the very administrator who called off classes for the rest of the first semester in 2009 in the wake of Typhoon Ondoy. Cuyegkeng stresses that she consulted with various people before announcing the move to cancel the final exams for the semester, so that affected members of the Ateneo community would have time to recover from the devastating effects of the typhoon.
Antonette Palma-Angeles
By Louella S. Ching ARISTOTLES PHILOSOPHY of happiness or eudaimonia focuses on the joy of contemplation achieved through the love of wisdom while engaging the world. This emerges not only from what Palma-Angeles teaches, but also in how she teachesthrough her PowerPoint slides and a life well lived. Charged with the ideas of great philosophers and enriched by her numerous contributions to the academe, her lectures provide space for discourse and frameworks for looking into ethical issues, moral dilemmas and current events. True to the Aristotelian phronesis, she constantly urges her class to always be voracious, out of the belief that having a real active interest in the world, and not just in ones specialization, will keep one ahead. True to another Aristotelian phrase that she often repeats in class, We are what we repeatedly do, she reminds the graduating seniors to consistently work hard and to try to rediscover their God and their Church. Only then will your moorings not be on societal understandings but on a deep sense that you are part of Gods plan. Consciously or not, Palma-Angeles lectures continually work their way into her students hearts and form a habit that will stay on long after graduation. When asked what she would like to be remembered by, she says, I hope they will remember me as somebody who pushed them hard but who always loved them. With that, its hard to imagine how Palma-Angeles can ever be forgotten.
Photo By Christella D. Soriano Photo By Mario T. Dagdag
In the end, what lesson are we teaching our students? What I ended up saying was that we have to recognize which things are more important when it comes to a certain time and space of a particular setting because in this particular case, we are dealing with people who lost their homes, she says. As an educator, she wants her students to learn deeply, and by her respectable example, it may not be a stretch to say that its not all about just gaining knowledge, but learning how to care for fellow men and women.
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Legends
Fr. Nick Cruz, SJ

By Alex P. Santiago HAVING TAUGHT film theory for more than 40 years, Fr. Nicasio Cruz, SJ, has inspired countless students (including local filmmakers Olivia Lamasan, Francis Xavier Pasion and Michael Tuviera) to pursue a life behind the camera. He points to an early fondness for the cinema as the catalyst for his teaching. I started going to movies when I was only five or six years old because my mother was a movie addict, he says. That started my interest in Philippine cinema and movies. Those familiar with the 1988 film Cinema Paradiso (an offering from Cruzs European Cinema class) will know about his fondness for Salvatore, the films movie-obsessed protagonist, and Alfredo, the fatherly projection worker who introduces Salvatore to the world of cinema. I consider myself like Alfredo, he says. Notice [that] I never leave the classroom, I always sit with the students. When you are laughing, I feel like I was the one who made you enjoy the movie. Thats why I never get tired [of ] teaching. Cruz, a graduate of the London Film School, believes that the movies are an experience to be enjoyed over and over again. While he has seen every film in his curriculum more than 50 times, he still retains a passion for cinema unparalleled by any other. From this position, he can say: Whatever you do, whether in business, filmmaking, whateverlove it. And enjoy it.
Rudy Ang
By Andrea S. Ang THERE IS a lot of prejudice appended to the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), including the classic all profit, no heart stereotype that haunts business majors the world over. That, however, is exactly what Rudy Ang has been fighting against as dean of the biggest school in the Ateneo. Whatever discrepancy observers may point out between the core curriculum and JGSOM subjects, his mission is to help people to see more clearly that they are perfectly consistent with each other, he explains firmly. With 26 years of administrative responsibilities under his belt, Angs liberal arts training from his time in the Ateneo has shaped many of the innovations he brought to JGSOM. His own fulfillment in touching the lives of students is one he wants to see in the schools graduates as well: Im looking for more than just titles or positions. Im wondering what did this former student do with that position to make a change to the lives of the people who now report to him. From the inception of interdisciplinary courses such as CTM and ITE to the establishment of campus hotspot JSEC, and from the camaraderie- and competition-filled SOM Week to the eagerly anticipated JTA program, Ang has certainly done his best to make the adage true: theres no place like SOM.
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I think the youth now, theyre different. Many things are pulling them. [Chuckles.] Tensionado yung mga bata ngayon. I think the difficulty is in focusing. The way I see it, you need a certain detachment from the inessential to be available for the essential or the fundamental. And thats what philosophy usually does. You become philosophical when you finally see this big distinction between what is essential and what is not essential. [Thats] very important.
- Dr. Leovino Garcia

interviewed by Luther B. Aquino
Photos By Pia B. Guballa
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Luminaries
When you came here as freshmen, I probably told you that I hope the Ateneo will be like your Nazareth where you will grow in wisdom, age and grace. Its been a pleasure to see you grow. I hope that you will continue to grow and help others to grow: your family, your children, and others who will come your way. For me, thats the most fulfilling thingto see people grow. I think thats the greatest gift you can give. We hope weve given that gift to all of you, and we also hope you will give that gift to others.
- Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ

interviewed by Louella S. Ching
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In the tradition of magis, be the best that you can be. My hopes have to do with the idea that each of us is unique in this world, with our own set of talents and possibilities. There is a special purpose for which we are here. I hope that each one of them can discern this purpose for himself and do what only he is meant to do.
- Mari-jo Ruiz
interviewed by Christella D. Soriano
[Remember] the Confucian philosophy, especially the Confucian virtue of rn, which can be translated as love, loving other people. [Practice], of course, the Golden Rulethats one of the tenets of Confucius. And, together with Confucius, are the Taoist philosophers Chuang Tzu and Lao Tzu. I want them to be remembered for their insights on taking care of nature, of following their very nature.
- Manny Dy, Jr., Ph.D.

interviewed by Luther B. Aquino
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Luminaries
Ngayon na magga-graduate na kayo sa Ateneo, mabuting pagmunimunihan ang motto ng Ateneo na sigurado akong madalas ninyong nakita at binasa. Ang motto ng Ateneo ay, Lux in Domino. Nasa kadiliman kayo noong araw, pero ngayon nasa liwanag kayo ng Panginoon. Sinasabi sa atin ni San Pablo na tayong lahat ay makasalanan. Pero sa grasya ng Diyos, kung tayo ay nagsisisi at nagkukumpisal, nagkakaroon ng liwanag sa ating buhay. At tayoy nagiging mga taong lumalakad at nabubuhay sa liwanag ng Panginoon. Kung maalala natin ito, meron tayong naaalalang mahalaga sa ating buhay. Sana huwag natin malimutan ito at palaging pagmunimunihan natin.
- Fr. Roque Ferriols, SJ

interviewed by J. A. de Lima
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Erratum : In the black and white version of this Graduation Magazine, The GUIDON published a number of erroneous bylines. These errors have been corrected in this edition. The GUIDON sincerely apologizes for these errors.
Photo By Alexandra L. Huang

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2013