B&G
The BLUE&GOLD
Ateneo de Naga University High School
Special Commemorative Issue
June-October 2011
JOSE RIZAL
150 YEARS
HERO
PATRIOT
ATENEAN
ALMA MATER. A view of the old Ateneo
Municipal de Manila in Intramuros during the
time of Rizal.
FIERY RIZAL. Cover & Backcover designs by
Alex Billones and Mr. Meljohn Tatel
B&G
Vol. 56 No. 1 June-October, 2011
INTHISISSUE:
THE APOSTOLIC DREAM 8
It’s been a while since the Ateneo de Naga installed
its new University President in the person of Father
Primitivo “Jun” E. Viray, Jr., S.J. Questions were
raised. Hopes were expressed. And people wanted
to have apeek on the person behind the name. What
is in him that makes him distinct from the previous
leaders of the university?
RIZAL DEMYSTIFIED 10
Our history had revealed itself; from the numerous
artifacts, our own culture and civilization, and so as
our heroes that brought change and independence
some years ago. One of which is the life of our
national hero, Jose Rizal. We have known Rizal for
his works and contributions for our country to gain
independence from the Spaniards but did we really
ever know what was he doing behind history?
RIZAL THE ATENEAN 14
In the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, Rizal’s course
was a Spanish colonial government prescribed
five-year program called segunda enseñanza. It
is roughly equivalent to the present high school
program with one or two years of college.
JESUIT EDUCATION
& RIZAL’S HEROISM
16
Seeing the protruding belfry of the San Ignacio and
the sun-bathed upper rooms of the Ateneo Municipal
on the way to his execution at Bagumbayan, Jose
Rizal quipped to his handlers and accompanying
Jesuits, “Yan and Ateneo, kung saan nagsimula ang
magagandang ala-ala.”
2
HEROIC LEADERSHIP 18
In history, many who led radical and effecting
changes happened to be Jesuit-educated. Jose
Rizal joins the ranks of Voltaire, Josef Stalin, Karl
Marx, Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton. In the local scene,
Rizal is joined by Gregorio del Pilar, Juan Luna,
Ninoy Aquino and many other catalysts of change.
As in the kung fu master in classic Karate Kid,
what training formula do their mentors have?
IGNATIUS 19
& THE HERO FACTORY
They are “heroes” in one form or another: Jesuit
martyrs and saints and Jesuit-educated heroalumni. Like St. Ignatius, they are driven “to love
and serve, in all things”. To understand the Jesuit
educational system (IPP) and Ignatius’ manual on
meditations and prayers (Spiritual Exercises), one
has to have a running knowledge of the life of St.
Ignatius.
THE DIVINE RIZAL 20
For some Filipinos, Rizal’s very act of martyrdom in
the fields of Bagumbayan on the morning of 30 December 1896 is the same act that Christ Jesus had
himself crucified on the Cross. With his martyrdom
coupled with seemingly superhuman talents and genius, Rizal must be worshipped.
nd - the
Editor in Chief: Cherilyn Sta. Ana
Managing Editor: Beatriz Ann Betito
News Editor: Princess Bermudo
Features Editor: Francis Dan Soltes
Senior Writers:
Ricklyn Pano Trisha Marie Rubio, Ian
Villaverde, Bryan Zantua, Michael Real,
Jeff Ryan Imperial, Rickdane Gomez, Isis
Normagne Pascual, Masahiro Kuronaga,
John Paul Sabio, Juan Paolo Arroyo
Junior Writers:
Michael Testa, John Noble Bobis, Nikki
Marie Rubio, Vienna Marie Rubio,
Charliene Alexie Deliva, Reycel Hyacenth
Bendana, Ted Aaron Dogillo, Denise
Geandra Tan, Zerah Graciene Alba,
Christian Lloyd Bertumen, Emerson Borja,
Kristian Deo de la Rosa
Photographers:
John Mar Sare, Cecille San
Buenaventura, Michael Real, Adrian
Olivan, Marjori Albis
Artists:
Annelyn De Leoz, Alex Alfred Billones,
Danielle Angela Aragon
Graphics Artist:
Alex Alfred Billones
Moderator:
Mr. Meljohn Tatel
BICOL EXPRESS 21
“Stop, look, and listen.” This phrase or saying used
in some nursery rhymes can be the most familiar
line we can think of when referring to iconic vehicle
almost alien to the younger generation.
TheBlue&Gold
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
EDITORIAL
A Hundred and Fifty
T
Jeffrey Requinta
o the Spaniards of long ago, Jose Rizal’s works were direct attacks aimed
at them, so they wished him dead. To the Filipinos of long ago, his works
were wake-up calls awakening Filipino patriotism, so there emerged heroes
like Andres Bonifacio, heroes who had the courage to begin uprisings
against the Spanish oppressors. To the Filipinos of then and now, Jose Rizal offered
the Philippines more than two outstanding novels and a number of great poems; he
offered the Philippines his life and his death, and so the Philippines honors him as
its greatest hero and regards him as an example for every Filipino’s quest to become
heroes, too.
When Jose Rizal picked up his quill, he
crafted more than two masterpieces that led to
Philippine freedom. His works were capable
of communicating their message throughout
ages. Through his works, Rizal left us a challenge and through his life he left us a hint.
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, both of
which are novels mirroring the “illnesses of the
nation”, seek to evoke patriotism and response
from Filipinos.
Indeed, it has been a hundred and fifty years
after the legendary birth of our national hero
and a hundred and fifteen years after his heroic death, and there are no more struggles under the hands of foreign oppressors, but there
are other battles waiting to be fought. The time
when Filipinos will have to stop fighting for the
Philippines, for the environment, for goodness
and for everything worth fighting for is a time
still so far away. As long as these struggles exist, there will always be a need for new heroes.
The quest for heroes is not one that seeks for
another “chosen one” among the millions of
Filipinos; it is an inner quest. It is a quest that
seeks to bring out the hero in each and every
one of us.
But how? How can we become heroes?
There is no perfect definition of what a hero
really is, but there have been others before us
June-October 2011
TheBlue&Gold
who have already trodden the path of heroism, others who have shown us what lies in
the path of those who wish to make a change,
others like Jose Rizal. It is for us to learn from
them and follow their footsteps.
And many great things are there to learn!
Jose Rizal, an illustrado who was blessed
with talents in numerous fields, possessed another thing which to him mattered more than
a promising future: his immense love for his
country. He chose martyrdom over his own
safety and writing for what is right over having
a bright career.
Like Jose Rizal, the rest of us are entitled
to the call of heroism. Heroism is reserved
not only for the powerful, not only for the geniuses, not only for the rich, but for the few
who have truly responded to its call. There
are various ways to be a hero. Rizal chose
the pen; others, the sword. Everybody else is
entitled to their own little or big, ways of helping others. Everything that we do, everything
that we choose, from the littlest to the biggest
things, define us. They can either qualify or
disqualify us as heroes. Nevertheless, there
are heroes within us, heroes who will reveal
themselves only when we are ready to be
“men and women” for others as the Ateneo
wishes and trains us to be.
3
RIZAL@150
HS gives to Pedring,Quiel victims
Fr. Primitivo Viray SJ, University President, receives
aid-offerings for the victims of Typhoon Pedring and
Quiel.
THE ATENEO DE NAGA High School Community symbolically offered aid and prayed for the victims of Typhoon Pedring and Quiel in the solemn
Eucharistic celebration on October 13, 2011 at the
High School Covered Courts.
Each learning group’s financial aid, collected
from all the learning groups earlier during the
week, was specially presented in the Offertory by
respective class presidents.
The entire community also remembered and
prayed for the victims in the Prayers of the Faithful. Members of the Junior Lectors Guild read the
petitions for the suffering brethren in Northern and
Central Luzon.
Fr. Primitivo Viray SJ, University President, was
the main celebrant in the mass. In his signature
antics, Fr. Viray kept the community alive with his
animated explanation of the day’s Gospel reading
and the call for compassion for the victims of the
recent calamity.
The collected amount will be forwarded to the
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB), the socioapostolic arm of the Society of Jesus in responding to the needs of the community. (Marjori Albis)
HS receives tallest flagpoles
IN THE FIRST Monday assembly
held outdoors, the Ateneo de Naga
High School Class of 1985 together
with the Alumni Association of 2010,
handed over to the school academic
superiors their gift of tallest flagpoles
in Bicolandia on September 12,
2010.
The generously donated flagpoles
for the Philippine flag and the school
colors boast 23 meters height.
“These flagpoles are the highest in
the Bicol Region and possibly highest in the whole Southern Luzon”,
according to Col. Tria.
AdNU sponsors allAteneo Principals’
confab
AT THE HEIGHT of Typhoon
Pedring’s Signal No.2, the Jesuit
Basic Education Commission
(JBEC) Principal’s conference
was held on September 25-27,
2011 at the Ateneo de Naga
Main Campus.
This annual conference is attended by Jesuit and lay school
administrators from the Ateneos
from Cebu, Davao, Manila, Iloilo,
Cagayan de Oro, and Palawan.
This year’s topics included a
Talk about the Environment,
Discussion on K+12 and Ateneo
de Naga’s sharing of its “best,
unique” practices.
Administrators talked about
how schools can have a
“Greener Campus” of their own,
as a part of the Jesuit mission
which is that to help each other
in becoming schools for others.
They also opened the topic of
K+12 to whether they agree on
this or not and to what issues
or problems will be faced if the
said program or curriculum is
followed. (Princess Bermudo)
4
Fr. Ruben Reyes accepted the
donated flagpoles in the absence
of the University President Rev. Fr.
Primitivo Viray Jr. In the assembly,
the poles were first blessed by Fr.
Reyes before the formal handover
ceremony started.
It has been almost nine years,
since the transfer to Pacol, that the
community has not seen flags unfurl on poles. Through the efforts of
the donors of the flagpoles, though
under the heat of the sun, Ateneans
witnessed the first flag raising, both
the Philippine and the school’s colors, in the Pacol Campus. (Princess
Bermudo)
Inmates wait for the Eucharistic celebration during
the Fiesta sa City Jail 2011.
Science Week highlights synergy, environment
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL year is
achieved by the Ateneo de Naga
University Science Department, as
their sponsored Annual Science
Week on the theme “Sciences in
Synergy for Environmental Stability,”
closed on October 10, 2011.
The week long celebration of environmental awareness was festooned
with different activities in which every
student and LG from all year levels
participated well. The freshmen had
their Recycled Lantern contest. The
sophomores battled against each
other to create the most attractive
photo exhibit. The juniors wowed
viewers with their amazing magic
tricks. The seniors entertained the
campus by their Physics tricks and
exhibitions. The fund raising activity
on the other side moved Ateneans to
think Clean and Green.
Another awaited event in the Science Week was the Science Camp.
Students pitched their tents inside
the Ateneo Covered Courts because
of the wet grounds outside. The
participants learned different fun
lessons about each of the following
subjects, Gen Sci, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Hands-on activities
also made it more enjoyable for the
participants. (Francis Dan Soltes)
Ricafort, Trinidad bag Mr.&Ms.Intrams title
WULFRANO RICAFORT III (LG 4424) and Claire Trinidad (LG
2215) were hailed respectively as Mr. and Ms. Intrams in the
pageant held on August 6, 2011 at the High School Covered
Courts. Twelve pairs of girls and boys from all the year levels competed for the school’s sole beauty contest marking the
opening of the Intramural games.
In the final selection for the grand title, the finalists competed
in the picture analysis where they made to respond to pictures
shown. The pictures were about school activities participated in
by the students in the Ateneo High School.
The following were other winners: 1st Runners-up (Joshua
Benjamin de la Fuente, Wyneth Cathryn Tam); 2nd Runners-up
(Enrico Manuel Prado, Ava Clarene Macapagal); Most Photogenic (Wulfrano Ricafort III, Juan Miguel Verdadero, Wyneth
Cathryn Tam); Students’ Choice (Wulfrano Ricafort III, Ava
Clarene Macapagal) ; Mr.&Ms. Congeniality (Jude Buelva,
El’ce Sarmiento). (Beatriz Ann Betito)
TheBlue&Gold
Mr. & Ms. Intrams Wulfrano Ricafort and Claire Trinidad
are flanked by previous title holders Karol Sarte and Annie
Paulo. They are joined by the Mr. Gregorio Abonal.
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
Students briefed on
career path
STUDENTS IN ALL year levels
listened to various speakers talking about their career in the activity
spearheaded by the Guidance Department last September 23, 2011.
Parents and invited speakers
graced the special homeroom sessions. Classes had at least one
speaker elucidating on his or her
chosen field of work. Other classes
had three or four speakers.
As the first undergraduate levels
had parents as speakers, the seniors had professors and instructors
from the different colleges of the Ateneo de Naga College. This was “to
give opportunity for the high school’s
higher education partner to recruit
prospect students in the next academic year”, according to Mr. Ireneo
Quejada, Coordinator for Student
Activities and Community Program.
Eventually, the parents and invited
speakers were invited to a simple
meal where the Guidance team expressed their gratitude and handed
over their tokens. (Isis Pascual)
In the middle of the ceremonies, a girl peeks from
the stage tricolor during the Presentation of Officers
in October.
Ateneo receives its Queen
Tne image of the Lady carried by
male faculty during her visit to the
campus.
LIKE A FANFARE for a royalty in full
regalia, the Ateneo de Naga community welcomed the Lady of Penafrancia, Patroness of Bicolandia, in her
traditional visit to the High School
campus on August 15, 2011.
The welcome rites started with the
deeply-moving procession of the image of the Lady from the school’s
main entrance to the venue of the
Eucharistic celebration. As the image entered the Covered Courts,
it was warmly received by the students, faculty and staff with the deafening screams of “Viva la Virgen!”
and heart-stopping sea of blue-andyellow flaglets waving.
Following the procession was a
mass presided by Rev. Fr. Andrew
Recepcion, Parish Priest of the
Penafrancia Shrine and Parish. Fr.
Recepcion. In his moving homily,
he prodded the students to follow
the examples of Mary, the mother of
Christ, in the way of love. He added
that “following Christ, like what Mary
did, is to proclaim God to everyone
and to love others without exception.” The mass was concluded by
blessing the additional Litany banners to be used by the Ateneo High
School community in the forthcoming Traslacion. Then, carried by
male faculty members, the Lady’s
image was processed to the school
chapel for the vigils of all the learning
groups. (Cherilyn Sta.Ana)
Hiroshima Gakuin’s visit marks 16th Year
AS THE PART of the Ateneo de
Naga and Hiroshima Gakuin Mutual Exchange Program, selected
high school students and mentors from Hiroshima Gakuin once
again visited Ateneo de Naga.
For sixteen years, this Mutual
Exchange Program establishes
a better partnership between the
two sister schools run by the Society of Jesus.
The presentation of the students
from Hiroshima Gakuin was held
on August 4, 2011at the high
school Covered Courts. The Ateneans expressed their warmest
greetings through interacting with
June-October 2011
the Japanese students very well. In
the onset of the event, the principal
of Hiroshima Gakuin gave his message remembering the catastrophe
that happened in Japan this year.
But because of the world’s prayers
and support, they gained courage in
spite of this impediment.
Moreover, the Japanese students
introduced themselves and also
showed their different talents and
skills, as Ateneans craned their
necks to better view their acts. There
were impetuous applauses and
amusing laughs.
To conclude the program, Mr. Gregorio Re Abonal gave his message
and said that Japan, as one of its
well known epithets, is the land of
the rising sun. Japan always rises
up and tries not to surrender despite the barriers and obstacles
that it faces. To sum up, it was an
event full of enjoyment and delight
which marked the fifteenth year of
welcoming the Hiroshima Gakuin
visitors. (Michael Testa)
TheBlue&Gold
Mentor tops teachers’
board exam
NEW HIGH
SCHOOL
teacher Mr.
Rey Cecilia
has once again
reaped laurels
for the school
by topping
the Regional
Level of the recent Licensure
Examination for Teachers (LET)
by the Professional Regulations
Commission.
Mr. Cecilia bested other examinees from all over the Bicol
region in the Science category
of the examination for those
majoring secondary education.
Mr. Cecilia and other Ateneo
de Naga teachers took the LET
of the current year in April 3,
2011. Results of the exam were
released a month after. The
College of Education boasts of
100% rate in the first phase of
examination for elementary and
secondary education. The other
phase of LET will be conducted
sometime in September of this
year.
Sir Rey, as he is fondly called,
graduated with flying colors
from the College of Education of
the university. He now teaches
Biology and General Science
for sophomores and freshmen
respectively. (Meljohn Tatel)
5
RIZAL@150
Knights rejoin military parade
FIRED UP BY the heat of enthusiasm, members of the Golden Knight
Battalion of the Ateneo de Naga
High School joined the military parade for commemorating the 63rd
Charter Anniversary of Naga City on
June 18, 2011.
Having been out of the street parade scene for two years, the officers had a chance to march, though
out of the highly controversial parade competition of the Penafrancia
festivities. The officers composing
two platoons joined the other city
schools. The Golden Knights were
led by the Corps Commander Lt.
Col. Jonel Guadalupe with Mr. Jose
de los Trino as Commandant. The
street parade snaked through the
major streets of the downtown Naga
city and ended up the reviewing
stand at the Plaza Quezon.
Civil servants in various public offices
and local government officials joined
in the celebration. June 18 is the reset
date for remembering the birth of the
city as a separate local government
unit from the province of Camarines
Sur. December 16 was the old date for
the Charter Anniversary.
PTA-built covered walk opened
AS PARENTS and
guardians join the
first parent-teacher
meeting in the academic year of 20112012, officers of the
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the
previous academic
year inaugurated the covered walk
project on June 5, 2011.
Under the leadership of Mr. Ringo
Badilla, President of the High School
PTA of the previous school year,
the officers had a covered walkway
The Ateneo de Naga High School
along Elias Angeles St. during the
2011 Traslacion
Intrams games open with big blast
AMIDST HOPES for victory, loud
cheers and gyrating moves, students
of the Ateneo de Naga High School
formally opened the school year’s
Intramurals on August 5, 2011 at the
Covered Courts.
The gathering for the big event
ceremoniously opened with a First
Friday Eucharistic celebration in
honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It was followed by the symbolic lighting of the Intramurals Fire, invoking
the spirit behind the Olympic Games.
This year’s Intramurals opening was
themed REVIVE–Renewing the Vi-
tality of Ignatian Values in Education. Thus, competitions for the team
name, T-shirt design, and cheerand-dance routine had retro and
vintage touch. Following the lighting
ceremony, Mr. Gregorio Re Abonal,
Principal, delivered his inspirational
message. The most awaited part, the
cheer-and-dance competition among
the learning groups, followed shortly.
Teams competed by year level.
The day was capped by an exhibition basketball game between
the high school varsity and selected
teachers and staff.
PCGG talks good govt to seniors
COMMISSIONERS of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) gave a small talk to
the fourth year students of the Ateneo de Naga High School on July
19, 2011 at the Seminar Hall.
In the brief talk, PCGG Chairman
Atty. Andres Bautista was joined by
other commissioners such as Atty.
Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan Gonzaga,
Atty. Richard Amurao, and Mr. Nelson Acebo CPA.
6
Chairman Bautista introduced
the beginnings of the PCGG in
1986 and highlighted its primary
function. Commissioner Amurao
did a picture talk on the PCGG
sequestered ill-gotten properties.
Lastly, Commissioner Chan-Gonzaga fished for the senior’s previous knowledge of “corruption”,
then imparted commonly accepted definition of “corruption” from
international anti-graft bodies.
TheBlue&Gold
constructed connecting the main
entrance of the campus to the main
building. The walkway follows the
side path of the St. Ignatius rotunda
at the main entrance.
The accumulated fund of the PTA
contributions of the school year
2001-2002 and the succeeding
years was used to finance the construction.
Fr. Primitivo Viray SJ, university
president, blessed the entire stretch
of the walkway. The blessing and inauguration was attended by previous
year’s officers and school officials.
Ateneans
feast in jail
ATENEANS SHOWED being
“persons for others” by sacrificing comfort and joys of feasting
as they joined the inmates of
the Naga City Jail in remembering the feast day of the Lady
of Penafrancia on September
17, 2011. Joined by volunteer
teachers and staff, students
started the traditional “Fiesta sa
City Jail” with a Eucharistic celebration by Fr. Xavier Olin SJ,
an alumnus and former teacher
in the High School. Shortly after
the mass, a program was held
where Ateneans and inmates
engaged in a showdown of talents. Selected choir inmates
rendered heartfelt song numbers while members of the
Ateneo Dance Club wowed everyone with their dance moves.
The activity was ended by giftgiving and distribution of food
among the inmates.
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
Holy Spirit Mass, Schola Brevis open academic year anew
THE TRADITIONAL Mass of the Holy
Spirit and Schola Brevis (brief school)
welcomed and ushered the entire
Ateneo de Naga High School community to the new academic year in
the gathering at the Covered courts
on June 3, 2011 at 8:30 in the morning.
Draped in the liturgical color of the
martyrs (red), Rev. Fr. Primitivo “Jun”
Viray SJ, new University President,
celebrated the mass as main presider. He was joined by Fr. Ruben Reyes
SJ, school chaplain.
Against the conspicuous stage backdrop portraying the Holy Spirit and His
gifts, Fr. Viray shared his experiences
as a novice seminarian in the Society
of Jesus. He pointed out the “variety
of backgrounds of his co-novices”.
He emphasized “that the uniqueness
and diversity in the community united
together” is the essence of invoking
the Holy Spirit.
Another highlight of the liturgical
celebration came in the form of the
initial part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist when members of the com-
munity ritually offered symbols of the
educational institution and the Jesuit
educational apostolate – books, uniforms, lesson plans, certificates of
accreditation, etc.
Following the special mass, the
student body was introduced to the
administration, faculty and staff of the
institution.
Administrators, academic superiors
and heads of offices did a roll call
of the members of the respective
department or office. The students
warmly received the introduction with
their thundering applause. And by tradition, the Schola Brevis became an
avenue to introduce among the freshmen the popularity or notoriety of a
teacher or a staff. (Isis Pascual)
Golden Knight Battalion officers at
the end of Presentation
B&G EIC bags letter
writing top prize
CHERILYN STA.ANA, the current editor in chief of the Ateneo de Naga High
School’s student publication won the
National Top Prize of the Philippine
Postal Corporation’s (Philpost) Letter
Writing Contest in October.
Sta. Ana bested other entries from the
entire Philippines. The contest is part of the 41st International Letter Writing contest usually held in the
month of October. Students were invited to send
in entries which contained letters to any famous
person.
Sta. Ana’s entry was her heart-warming letter of
felicitation to Lydia de Vega, the Filipina legendary sprinter. She receives a cash prize of P15,000,
medal, plaque and stamp album. Her letter will be
the official Philippine entry to the London finals.
June-October 2011
Palatuntunan para sa
Wika matagumpay na
idinaos
NABIGYAN NG pagkakataon
na maipamalas ang pagpapahalaga at pagmamahal sa
sariling wika sa pagtatapos na
palatuntunan ng Kagawaran ng
Filipino noong Agosto 26, 2011
na tinampukan ng mga sayaw,
panitikan at paggawad at pagkilala sa mga piling mag-aaral.
Ang tema ng taunang Buwan
ng Wika ngayon ay “Ang Filipino
ay Wikang Panlahat, Ilaw at Lakas sa Tuwid na Landas.”
Ang mga mag-aaral ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon na maipamalas ang galing nila sa paglahok sa iba’t-ibang patimpalak
tulad ng pagsulat ng tula at sanaysay, T-shirt Painting, Poster
making at iba pa na inilunsad ng
Kagawaran ng Filipino.
Nagkaroon din ng SeminarWorksyap sa Pagsulat ng Tula
at Pag-uugnay ng Panitikan at
Teatro para sa mga mag-aaral
noong ika-20 ng Agosto sa Pamantasan ng Ateneo De Naga
Hayskul na dinaluhan ng isang
tanyag na manunulat na si Kristian Sendon Cordero at dalawa
sa mga kinikilalang nating guro
sa Filipino na sina Ginoong Cris
Aian Cabal at Ginang Vilma
Canete na naging mga tagapagsalita sa Seminar-Worksyap. (Beatriz Ann Betito)
Flowery Living Rosary
caps October Devotion
THE TRADITIONAL Living Rosary, which punctuates the devotional month of October in all
Jesuit educational institutions, was held with
“flowery” innovation at the Covered Courts on
October 29, 2010.
Usually with beads formed by students and
teachers, the Living Rosary had multi-colored
orchid blooms and lighted candles in its heartshaped formation, sending a heavenly feeling to
the commnunity.
The Living Rosary was more meditative as
Scripture passages on the decade’s mystery
were read by a teacher before bead formula
prayed was recited by a volunteer student.
TheBlue&Gold
7
RIZAL@150
THE APOSTOLIC DREAM
It’s been a while since the Ateneo de Naga installed its new University President in
the person of Father Primitivo “Jun” E. Viray, Jr., S.J. Questions were raised. Hopes
were expressed. And people wanted to have apeek on the person behind the name.
What is in him that makes him distinct from the previous leaders of the university? The
Blue&Gold shares the candid interview with the new Jesuit on post:
By Beatriz Ann Betito & Ricklyn Pano
C
URIOSITY SPARKS in the mind
of every Atenean whenever he
holds mass in Ateneo because
it seems like he has this “magic”
that makes every student
mesmerized by him. This “magic” also ignites
new questions like: how has he been in Bicol;
what adjustments has he made; what it feels
to fill in the shoe of the previous president;
and also what he dreams for the Ateneo de
Naga University.
When the president arrived here in Naga
and was installed as the new university president he didn’t hold any expectations because
he was already used to travelling and settling
in one place to another. He regards his
transfer as a mission to a new ministry and
therefore, he came with no expectations. He
just took in what the people are and what the
institute is. According to the president, “Work
from what you have.” One should learn to
adjust to things because everything changes
and change is the constant reality of life. It is
something that you need to adjust to because
it cannot adjust to you.
Regarding Ateneo de Naga, it is no different from the other Ateneo campuses the
president has been to. Ateneo de Naga
has its own pluses and minuses. There will
always be its positive and negative side.
For now, the president has no visions and
dreams for Ateneo because he said, “Until I
get to know the people that’s when I’ll build
my expectations.”
When asked about his aspirations for
Ateneo de Naga, the president says that
what comes to mind always about Ateneo is
Excellence, even in the high school it is also
Excellence, through instruction and involvement in the society that is not just limited in
Naga, in Bicol, in the Philippines but it is also
for the world.
The new University President doesn’t feel
any pressure now. There was pressure before, initially, from the giants of the previous
leaders but for the president, each and every
one of us is unique. When we come to a certain place we bring with us our own particular
sets of gifts and skills. It is our uniqueness
that makes us different from all other people.
But the right now, the president doesn’t feel
pressure. For him, the key is always the
people. It is the gift, the wealth in any organizations. The only thing to do is manage the
8
“I don’t
make
promises.
I work
with what I
have.”
Photo courtesy of Fr. Joel Tabora SJ
people well and develop them.
The President admitted that he was facing
problems regarding the system and policies of Ateneo de Naga when he first arrived
because there was this “honeymoon stage”
wherein he gets a feel of the university, of
the people and the texture of the people like
not just knowing their names but also knowing the stories behind them so that he will
know the problem that lies behind. For every
university there are two challenges: one is
developing human resources, because, as
stated, people are our wealth and in order
to have a good university you have to have
good human resources and also it doesn’t
stop in just developing them but “you also
need to hold on to them,” he said. Holding
on to them is by sending them to training
for higher degrees, and providing a care for
them although there is no assurance that
they can be kept because they make certain
decisions in life and therefore, how to attract
them to stay in Ateneo is really a challenge.
People say that the reasons why they stay in
TheBlue&Gold
Ateneo is that, one, it is the community where
they belong, it is their home. They feel at
home in Ateneo. They don’t just see Ateneo
as a place of work but their community. And
second, the shared values that people appreciate that comes from the gift is Ignatian
Spirituality which is something that one will
commonly see in other religious schools. This
Ignatian Spirituality is stronger than the others, we usually mouth it, like Magis, AMDG,
or Primum Regnum Dei but the president has
one wish, he wishes that people will not just
say it, but they should also live it. And because of that gift of Ignatian Spirituality, when
people live they look for it and then they’ll
come back and say that they would rather
stay here in Ateneo.
The second challenge is when it comes to
financial aspect because compared to other
Ateneo schools in the Philippines, Ateneo
de Naga can be considered as the poorer
university. And we are far more less than
Ateneo de Zamboanga mainly because of
the economic situation we have that is very
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
fragile. When the economic situation is low, the enrollment is also low.
The bread and butter of the university is the enrollment, thus we have to
insure the increase or maintained number of enrolled students so that
the university can survive. And so with this, there is a need to prudently
manage because there is no assurance that we will get all that we want.
The president said that the new administration will do changes slowly.
The innovation will be baby steps - slowly, slowly until we truly get what
we want.
When asked about the traditions that fascinate him and differentiate
Ateneo de Naga from other campuses, the president said that there is
a certain brand of warmth in Naga because the city is still very much
provincial with its pluses and minuses. The plus is because of its certain
innocence, that even though we are now much sophisticated because
of social networking sites people are still more attached with simple
things. With the people, the president said that for the most part but not
all the times, people come with certain innocence; they come with certain
truthfulness.
One thing that we should never forget are is first impression the president had about Ateneo de Naga. He said there’s much warmth, many
good people especially the faculty and staff and there is the kindness and
politeness of the people.
One of the most important and valuable principle that the president
withholds is the belief that the human resources must be given much focus and attention. According to him, the strength of human resource that
dwells the community is one of the most important factors to form solidity
in an institution. He believes that the potential of the community will be
utilized if the employees forming it are competitive and well-skilled. And
since he confesses that he is convincingly amazed on the innocence,
friendliness and sincerity of the Bicolano, he told us that he was certain
that he was at great ease in adjusting—although he didn’t really find any
difficulty in coping up with us.
Further elaborating about the awe and admirations of Fr. Jun, he also
shared one of his experiences during the Peñafrancia Fiesta. As common
to Bicolanos like us, he also felt moving and touching after witnessing the
undaunted and steadfast manifestation of our faith to INA. He even expressed his own feelings of appreciation when he told us that he admired
our community for being supportive and united most especially in school.
Although he admitted that he lacked information about the Ateneo de
Naga High School, he undoubtedly praised the long tradition being sustained and maintained which helps the community become closely knit.
Too much with the traditions, what must be focused on are the plans of
the new president to the university although he didn’t promise anything
for the school during our interview with the new president, he emphasized that there are sectors that must be attended. One major problem
that must be addressed is the lack of financial income and lack of infrastructures and offices. He also told us that they are currently preparing
for the K-12 Program which is soon to be implemented nationwide at
least a year from now. He mentioned that although the university is not
that ready in terms of new classrooms that must be provided, the university, in general must really follow and go with the trend most especially
that the Philippines is already left behind in terms of education and employment. The president also said, “I don’t make promises… I work with
what I have, work with them [the people especially the staff and faculty],
dream with them and let the Lord, take care of them.”
Lastly and most probably the most important part of our interview with
Fr. Jun Viray, let us hear his message to all Ateneans most especially to
the graduating batch. Here’s how he annotate it: “I would like you, those
graduating and even those who are still finishing their courses, to dream,
but to dream apostolically. Mangarap, it means to dream, you dream
something for yourself, for your future. To keep dreaming apostolically is
doing this not for you only, but more importantly for others. You do your
dreams because you have ends in mind. If dreams you dream are only
for yourself, you will come away empty but if you dream and you are
driven by that dream with a desire to do things for others it is apostolic
dreaming. It is doing dreams towards a mission. It is an exercise of Apostolic dreaming. Your Passion and together with the interests and skills
you developed by having good education, your skills become one with
your passion, but it is always directed to the context of, to wider needs of
the society.” 
June-October 2011
TheBlue&Gold
FYI on Fr. Viray
Elementary & High School: Ateneo de Cebu (Sacred Heart School-Jesuit)
College: University of the Philippines (Diliman) - Economics
Seminary Studies: Loyola School of Theology
Doctoral Studies: University of East Anglia in Norwich,
United Kingdom
According to his Mother, “Marunong siyang
makipagkapwa-tao.”
Favorite Color: Blue (for wall designs, Walnut Color)
Favorite Number: nothing in particular
Favorite Bicolano Dish: Kinunot.
Favorite Place in Bicol: Ateneo De Naga
Favorite Local Basketball Team: Manila Blue Eagles &
Naga Golden Knights
Favorite NBA Basketball Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Favorite Motto: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
HIS PR EDECESSORS:
Rectors
& Presidents
Ateneo de Naga
Eusebio Salvador SJ Vincent McNally SJ
1954-1959
1949-1953
Luis Candelaria SJ
1966-1967
Eugene Moran SJ
1982-1985
Francis Burns SJ
1940-1949
Vincent Towers SJ
1959-1960
Robert Rice SJ
1960-1966
Maximo David SJ
1967-1972
Oscar Millar SJ
1972-1978
Jose Ma. Fuentes SJ
1978-1982
John Phelan SJ
1985-1989
Raul Bonoan SJ
1989-1999
Joel Tabora SJ
1999-2011
9
RIZAL@150
RIZAL
DEMYSTIFIED
By John Paul Sabio
Condensed from Ambeth Ocampo’s
“Rizal without the Overcoat”
O
ur history had revealed itself; from the numerous
artifacts, our own culture and civilization, and so as
our heroes that brought change and independence
some years ago. One of which is the life of our national
hero, Jose Rizal. We have known Rizal for his works and
contributions for our country to gain independence from
the Spaniards but did we really ever know what was he
doing behind history?
HIS SORCERY
NO CHICO BONITO
Rizal believed in “kulam” and “quack doctors” and did not totally
close his eyes with
science. He remarked
that no matter how silly
the practice is but as
long as it is accepted
by the majority of the
society, there must
have been a basis
for it.
Rizal was really not the “smartest” of his generation because there were evidences of proving such
things. One of which is when he studied at Ateneo
Municipal (Ateneo de Manila University) wherein
he graduated with “SOBRESELIENTE” or excellent grades in all his subjects but records say that
he was only one of the 9 students who had also
the same grades with him. Another record from
University of Sto. Tomas says that he had only few
“passing” grades and of which he had great difficulty on learning the fields of Science and Medicine. He even admitted that Gliceo Anson, one of
his classmates, was even smarter than him. Because of these, he advised his nephews to follow
his own inclination in order to succeed in his life.
Ateneo de Manila in Rizal’s time
KOMIKERO
JETSETTER
SHARP SHOOTER
Aside from arts and sciences, Rizal
was a sharp shooter and could shoot a
target about 20 meters away. Shooting
was a favorite pastime among Filipino
expatriates in Europe. He also played
fencing with his friends when he was in
Europe.
10
Rizal was acknowledged as
the “Father of the Philippine
Comics” because of some of
his humorous drawings he had
done during his life. During his
exile in Dapitan he drew a cartoon showing a typical house
resided by a “mangkukulam”.
Rizal was not in favor of giving obligatory tips to waiters and many more and
in fact he complained about it. Rizal
was always cheated every time he
checks-in in a hotel which was done in
a manner that a hotel personnel somewhat reduces his money dishonestly.
Heidelberg Castle
FUHRER’S FATHER
Rizal was rumored to have a
son relationship with a former
Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler.
Rizal’s stint in Germany made
him sire the dreaded NAZI
dictator.
TheBlue&Gold
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
VAIN
He may or may
not have been a
“conscious hero”
but the bulk of
extant daguerreotypes of Rizal
proved his being
“image-conscious”. Where
there were photo
opportunities, expect to see Rizal
striking a pose.
CLASSIC CASANOVA
INTSIK
When Rizal was out for Spain, while he was walking on the streets, he was attracted by people and
mistaken him as Chinese, Japanese, American,
and many more except for being a Filipino. He
complained and kept on writing that he doesn’t
want such names to be called. He was not the
only one to suffer such mistaken identity but so
as to his Fiipino friends like Juan Luna and to
which they called themselves as the “INCHICS”.
RECYCLER
Although Rizal’s highly acclaimed novels commanded
respect for his literary genius, their plots were largely
based on previously published works of masters. “Noli”
was derived from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s
Cabin” and “Fili” was a combination of Shakespeare’s
“Hamlet” and Alexander Dumas’ “The Count of Monte
Cristo”.
THIRD NOVEL
APOTHEOSIS
Claro M. Recto
June-October 2011
Rizal’s place in the pantheon of demigods could
be traced back to Claro M.
Recto’s “Rizal Bill” - making
Rizal’s life and works a
required subject and reading to all Filipino secondary and tertiary school
students. Recto jostled
and fought tooth and nail
against the Catholic Church
which opposed the bill. The
hierarchy said it was an
afront against the Church.
Rizal had written his third novel
in Filipino but didn’t manage to
finish it. One chapter of such
novel was entitled “Makamisa”
or after the mass. This book is
currently undergoing investigations regarding on its title
and the reason why it was left
unfinished.
TheBlue&Gold
Rizal had 13
women on his
life and three
of them were
Leonor Rivera,
Nellie Bousted,
and Josephine
Bracken. The
thing here is
that Leonor
complained
that he was not
writing for her;
Nellie on the other hand, set rules for
any commitment; while Josephine
advised him to find someone else
acceptable to his family. Rizal’s first
true love was Segunda Katigbak, a
sister of his friend, Mariano Katigbak
in Tondo. Josehine Bracken, one of
Rizal’s loves, was suspected to be a
Spanish spy by his sisters. Rizal in
1888 had an affair with a Japanese
woman, Seiko Usui, whom he called
O-Sei-San, when he visited Japan.
She had an only daughter, Yuriko, by
a foreign husband some years after
her encounter with Rizal.
STINGY
Rizal was accustomed of not taking a
bath because he was being thrifty. He
wrote in his letters that taking a bath
on his trips would cost him much of his
money.
11
RIZAL@150
RIZALWHATIF?
Rizal’s FB Wall (Alex Billones)
NinoyRizal (Xave Gregz)
Damaso
Ambeth Ocampo
12
Rizalborg (JP Cuison)
Team Manila
TheBlue&Gold
Cyborg Rizal (JP Cuison)
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
RIZAL’S
SCHOOL
LIFE
By Cherilyn Sta. Ana
At age thirteen, Jose Rizal entered an institution
that would would hugely create an impact on his
life and influence his being a hero: the Ateneo.
E
ven during the time of Dr. Jose P.
Rizal’s studies in the Ateneo, the
institution was already been notable for the virtues it lived by and
the education provided by the Jesuits who
were then known to be the best educators of
Spain. The Manila government subsidized
the school, though, and this was the reason
why the school was called Ateneo Municipal
back in 1865, when it was established in
Intramuros.
A student wishing to study in the Ateneo
Municipal needed to take an entrance exam
that covered Christian doctrine, reading,
writing, grammar and elementary arithmetic.
Just like the Ateneo today, the Ateneo back
then placed a great importance on the spiritual formation of its students and held dear the
value of discipline. Masses were held before
each class and prayers were said daily. The
subjects included in the system were physical
culture, the arts which included music, drawing and painting, agriculture, commerce and
mechanics.
Classes were divided into groups of interns
and externs during the first two terms. The
interns represented the Roman empire while
the externs represented the Carthaginian
Empire. There were five positions: Emperor,
Tribune, Decurion, Centurion and StandardBearer. These positions could be won by
catching a member of the opposing group in
error three times. To be caught in error meant
an additional point to the opposing team.
The house with the higher number of points
was declared winner.
Only the ones considered the best in class
June-October 2011
in terms of devoutness and diligence could
be members of the fraternity of Mary and St.
Luis Gonzaga. The fraternity held meeting every Sunday and had public programs
composed of poem recitations and debates
after the mass.
This was the Ateneo that Jose Rizal knew.
He did not take the entrance examinations
and could not have been accepted because
of his late enrolment and his small physical
stature. With the help of his family’s friends,
though, he was able to enter Ateneo. He
took a five-year course that led to his Bachiller en Artes degree which is equivalent to a
high school diploma.
Jose Rizal organized the things he did. He
had a plan of what he would be doing in the
twenty-four hours of the day and followed that
plan strictly. Though when he first entered
the Ateneo he was at tail of his class he was
promoted to the rank of Emperor within a
month. He attained Sobrasaliente or excellent in all his subjects which made him very
proud.
Contrary to the famous belief that he was a
TheBlue&Gold
genius, Jose Rizal also had to battle with the
sadness of knowing that his mother was in
prison and had to work his way to the top of
his batch through his own hard work. Finally
his mother was released, thus improving his
academic performance in his third year.
He then began reading novels, and in his
fourth year he developed a deep love for
poetry. Once, Jose’s mother showed Fr.
Leoncio Lopez, who was the parish priest of
the town and was a friend of Jose’s father,
one of Jose’s poems. Fr. Lopez commented
that Jose must have copied the poem from a
book, and Jose, hearing this, reacted. Later
on Fr. Lopez learned from the Jesuits that
Jose was indeed excellent in poetry, and
returned to Manila to apologize to Jose, and
the two became good friends.
In his fifth year, Jose Rizal’s professor in
philosophy suggested that he abandon his
dedication to poetry and Rizal cried. He
continued to write poetry, though, as well as
other forms of literature. Other things also
held his enthusiasm, such as philosophy,
physics, drawing, painting, and sculpting,
where he also excelled. He also engaged
in gymnastics, fencing and other physical
exercises to correct his small stature.
Jose Rizal’s stay in the Ateneo was one
which he treasured. He was greatly thankful to the Jesuits, and looked to them with
affection. Before he left for Spain in May
1882, he wrote in his diary, “I owe much to
the Jesuits – almost everything that I am and
stand for.” 
13
RIZAL@150
RIZAL
The ATENEAN
Compiled by Mr. Meljohn Tatel
I
n the Ateneo Municipal de Manila,
Rizal’s course was a Spanish
colonial government prescribed
five-year program called segunda
enseñanza. It is roughly equivalent
to the present high school program
with one or two years of college. It eventually led
to a bachelor’s degree. Segunda enseñanza prepared
students for the university level. To the government
curriculum, the Jesuit fathers combined the Ratio
Studiorum (Plan of Studies) unique to the Society of
Jesus, renowned for its educational apostolate.
The main entrance to the Ateneo Municipal in
Intramuros during Rizal’s time
Cover and few inside pages of Rizal’s 1877 graduation programme. Rizal received five medals. (Courtesy of Ateneo de Manila University. Souvernir
program commemorating the centenary (1877-1977) of Rizal’s graduation from the Ateneo.)
14
TheBlue&Gold
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
Rizal’s transcript of record from the Ateneo de Manila
University obtained by Leon Ma. Guerrero from Fr. Pablo
Pastells in 1905. (Souvernir program commemorating
the centenary (1877-1977) of Rizal’s graduation from the
Ateneo)
RIZAL IN THE ATENEO
1872
Jose Rizal starts studying at the
Ateneo Municipal de Manila
1875
Rizal enrolls as an interno or a
boarding resident student to further
improve his marks.
1877
At fifteen, Rizal completes his
secondary program and receives his
Bachelor of Arts degree
1878
Rizal pursues additional subjects in
topography and agriculture at the
Ateneo while studying at the same at
the University of Santo Tomas
Fr. Francisco de Paula
Sanchez SJ
Fr. Federico Faura SJ
Fr. Jose Ignacio
Guerrico SJ
Fr. Pablo Pastells SJ
RIZAL’S JESUIT MENTORS
FR. FRANCISCO DE PAULA SANCHEZ SJ
Fr. Sanchez was Rizal’s favorite professor.
From him, Rizal learned Rhetoric, Geometry,
French, Latin and Greek. Rizal owed Fr.
Sanchez the development of his literary
abilities.
FR. JOSE IGNACIO GUERRICO SJ
When the Jesuits took over the government
Escuela Pia in 1859, Fr. Guerrico was the
Prefect of Studies. He became counselor for
students during Rizal’s time.
FR. PABLO PASTELLS SJ
When Rizal became the prefect of the Sodality
of Our Lady (a student organization now called
Christian Life Community), Fr. Pastells was the
group’s director and Rizal’s spiritual counselor.
Fr. Pastells became the Jesuit Superior during
Rizal’s exile in Dapitan. Pastells and Rizal
corresponded on issues of religion.
Rizal at 13 in Ateneo
June-October 2011
TheBlue&Gold
FR. FEDERICO FAURA SJ
A well-known scientist and director of the
Manila Observatory (PAGASA during the
Spanish period). Padre Faura reprimanded
Rizal of his liberal ideas and urged him to leave
the country to avoid the wrath of the authorities.
15
RIZAL@150
JESUIT
EDUCATION &
RIZAL’S HEROISM
by Rickdane C. Gomez 2318
Seeing the protruding belfry of
the San Ignacio and the sunbathed upper rooms of the Ateneo
Municipal on the way to his
execution at Bagumbayan, Jose
Rizal quipped to his lawyer and
accompanying Jesuits, “Yan and
Ateneo, kung saan nagsimula ang
magagandang alaala.” Nostalgic
and heartwarming, his words
resound the intimate romance of his heroic deeds
and his formative years under the Jesuits.
W
e all have our heroes, a fictional
superhero, a saint, a celebrity,
a politician, simple people in
our neighborhood, and lots of
other choices that we could choose from. But
whatever choices there maybe, we all have
our reasons and justifications, depending on
how these people lived, what they did, and
what they can still do. Aside from these factors, we must also give stress on how these
persons became heroes themselves. By understanding their reasons of being meritorious
icons, we ourselves may learn how to become
one of them.
In the Philippines we have a whole bunch
of heroes, a manifestation that we really are
brave and noble people. From all corners of
the country, who would not know of our national hero - Dr. Jose Rizal? Recent surveys
reveal Rizal remains the all-time No.1 hero
among Filipinos only to be followed by Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Many people, young
and old alike recognize and admire him, locally and internationally. We’ve heard a lot of
stories, we’ve seen many films, and we knew
many things about the life of Dr. Jose Rizal,
16
making him widely renowned of his deeds and
contributions to the society.
Looking at his background, we can really
say that he is more than a great person, and
being a great person, you must have great beginnings and great inspiration. Experiences,
knowledge, acquaintances, these are all important in building up one’s heroic foundation.
Much more than this, perhaps another thing
that helped him become a hero is his valuesand here is where Jesuit Education played its
part.
Jose Rizal had his education particularly
at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, where he
graduated sobresaliente and with highest honors at the age of 16. Studying there for several
years, he experienced a not just kind of teaching, but more than that the values of being at
service for the love of country and the love of
God. This teaching is what we, Ateneans, take
pride to say: The Jesuit Education.
Three Jesuits in the school (Fr. Ben Reyes
SJ, Fr Philip Yohan SJ, and Bro. Sherwin Santos SJ), shared what could be the contributions
of Jesuit Education strengthening the heroism
TheBlue&Gold
of Jose Rizal. Aside from academic knowledge that he gained in his stay at the Ateneo,
he was all the more exposed to the Christian
Values by which Ateneans are known for.
Seeing God in Everything. A primary
root we can say about all the Jesuit values.
When we see God in every person and in everything that we do, all the rest of the good values follow. Although Rizal was largely an heir
to the waves of “enlightenment” shaking Europe, the Jesuits, while shaping his mind and
heart in the walls of Intramuros, had the initial
share in hero-making. Rizal was an heir to
the fruits of Ignatius’ spiritual awakenings. As
such, Rizal saw that no barriers and boundaries separated the “indios” from the “insulares”
and the “peninsulares” in the Spanish colony.
For Rizal and his Jesuit formators, there were
no “holy cows” but rather equality and fair
treatment for all. Rizal saw how the Filipinos
suffered from the injustices and abuses of the
government and inside the church, and so he
responded to the call of his nation.
Social Responsibility. Seeing all those
horrible scenes, he fought for reform, change,
and respect for every citizen whom he beJune-October 2011
RIZAL@150
Ateneans, in the same school uniform Jose Rizal
wore, read as the Jesuit mentor looks on. Photo
courtesy of the book “The Ateneo Way”.
lieved deserve the right to be valued and respected in his own mother land. The plight of
his own family members and fellow Filipinos
in Calamba under the cruel hands of the local
Church-members and colonial officials started
to build in him the unfathomable strength that
rocked the very foundation of the Spanish
colony in Asia.
Being Men for Others. Although this
favorite Atenean “maxim” never came into official and common use until Fr. Pedro Arrupe’s
term as Superior General, all the Spanish
Jesuits’ work, on their return after the Suppresion, pointed to “being men for others” as
completion and denouement of their apostolate. Thus, gifted with high intellect and capacity, Rizal used his fullest potential to be of
service to the people. He educated the community (especially children), treated the sick
and specialized in their diseases, and helped
his fellows in many ways without expecting a
reward. Yet, the greatest achievement that we
consider from him is being a catalyst of realization and revolution in the country.
Discernment. Rizal knew of what he had
to do. It was his vocation to fight for the people
June-October 2011
against malfeasance and oppression of that
time. He was even able to predict that America would soon have the interest for the Philippines. Yet knowing all these, he never ceased
to struggle for what he believed was right.
Spirit of Non-violence. Rizal, unlike
other heroes, fought through peaceful means.
Through writing, he was able to convey his
message to his fellow Filipinos. And through
his pen, he was able to awaken the people
into the reality without having the needs of
rigorous wars and bloodsheds. Rizal fought
against the evil acts in the church; a common
misunderstanding from us is that Rizal battled
the Church itself. What he wanted was clearly
Filipinization in the Church. Filipino priests
must have their own parishes, and not just
be sacristans or acolytes to the friars. Just
like Martin Luther, Rizal wanted to point out
several wrongdoings of the Church (selling of
indulgence, etc.) which were obviously inappropriate to its nature.
Rizal then began to write his famous novels, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”
which portrayed the real scenario of the Philippines at that time. These novels as we all know
TheBlue&Gold
“Even though the
tone and color of
the typical heroism
of the past is now
modified into the
new ideal heroism of
the present, heroism
itself did not change.
Heroism remained as
heroism, being ready
for the service of
others, anytime, and
at no extra cost.”
fanned the fire in the Filipinos’ minds and feelings which led to many uprisings. Even though
Rizal knew that his actions against injustices
in the church and of the government has laid
him into an undesirable fate, he stood brave
enough for the love of his country, and this was
his tag of heroism and martyrdom - fighting for
the right cause through peaceful and humane
means. And this proved that minds and pens
are braver and better than swords.
We are everyday heroes. The fact that we
all strive to live better each day for many reasons and purposes, we are already doing our
best to be heroes. Even though the tone and
color of the typical heroism of the past is now
modified into the new ideal heroism of the
present, heroism itself did not change. Heroism remained as heroism, being ready for the
service of others, anytime, and at no extra
cost. It only varies on how people define it,
but it all leads to one end. Even though we
can never really tell if heroism of the past and
heroism of the present are of equal value, we
can all still endeavor ourselves to be heroes in
the best way that we can.
17
RIZAL@150
HEROIC
LEADERSHIP
by Mr. Meljohn Tatel
I
n history, many leaders who initiated radical
changes happen to be Jesuit-educated. Jose Rizal
is a leader who joins the ranks of Voltaire, Josef
Stalin, Karl Marx, Fidel Castro and Bill Clinton.
In the local scene, Rizal is joined by Gregorio del Pilar,
Juan Luna, Ninoy Aquino and many other catalysts of
change. As in the kung fu master in classic Karate Kid,
what training formula do their mentors have? Chris
Lowney, Jesuit-educated and an ex-Jesuit himself, describes how the
Jesuits, in their 400 years of existence, tackle leadership using four great
pillars:
SELF-AWARENESS
The leader understands who he is and deeply knows what he values.
This understanding includes continuous self-reflection on one’s
strengths and weaknesses. To face one’s weaknesses is to conquer
them. Thus the leader appreciates himself as talented, ready to learn
all the time and maneuver oneself in the sea of change.
INGENUITY
The leader approaches any problem with imagination, creativity,
adaptability and quick response. This way, the leader responds to
new challenges and situations with a full heart and confidence. The
leader becomes imaginative towards new approaches all the time because of two reasons: first, the leader has no fixation over anything,
thus attachments or prejudgments never stop him to pursue new and
innovative ideas; second, he is optimistic and always hopes that there
is an opportunity and an avenue to tackle a problem.
LOVE
Unlike the other leaders who invest on “fear”, the Ignatian-inspired
leader invests on “love”. Away from the reward-punishment model, a
leader following the example of St. Ignatius sees every individual’s
talent and potential to grow and eventually lead. While a self-serving
leader sees subordinates as mechanical workers, an Ignatian leader
sees a full human potential also capable of “loving”. Thus, the loving leader, through the “cura personalis”, provides support and full
encouragement. In effect, the group governed by love is marked by
loyalty and mutual support.
HEROISM
An effective leader inspires others to achieve broader aims. The
leader’s followers are motivated towards heroic or meteoric undertaking. Fired by ingenuity and love, the leader inspires everyone to own
the group’s mission and is propelled to model the group’s virtues. by
the leader’s example, everybody in the group magnifies the group’s
undertaking. Thus, with love and ingenuity, everyone is driven by the
“magis” - the drive to do “more” for the noble purpose. 
18
TheBlue&Gold
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
IGNATIUS &
THE HERO FACTORY
by Fr. Ruben Reyes SJ, High School Chaplain
They are “heroes” in one form or another: Jesuit martyrs and saints and
Jesuit-educated hero-alumni. Like St. Ignatius, they are driven “to love
and serve, in all things”. To understand the Jesuit educational system (IPP)
and Ignatius’ manual on meditations and prayers (Spiritual Exercises), one
has to have a running knowledge of the life of St. Ignatius.
THE LIFE OF ST. IGNATIUS
THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
of ST. IGNATIUS
IGNATIAN PEDAGOGICAL
PARADIGM
FIRST WEEK
Principle and Foundation and
the Meditations on Sin
CONTEXT
EXPERIENCE
JESUIT CORE VALUES
EARLY BEGINNINGS
Ignatius is born as Iñigo in Azpeitia,
Guipozcoa, Northern Spain to the LoyolaOñaz family. He serves as a page to the royal
court of Castille. He is steeped in chivalry
and sense of nobility.
SELF-AWARENESS
Non multa sed multum
(Not many but much)
CONVERSION
Ignatius is wounded by a cannon ball in
1521 while defending a castle in Pamplona.
He recuperates in Loyola Castle and reads
Thomas a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ
and Ludolph of Saxony’s Lives of Saints,
eventually undergoing spiritual conversion.
He travels to Aranzazu, Montserrat, Manresa
and Jerusalem.
SECOND WEEK
Meditations on the Kingdom,
Three Classes of Men,
and the Three Degrees of
Humility;
Contemplation on the
Incarnation
INGENUITY
REFLECTION
Tantum quantum
(So far as)
STUDIES
Now serving his Divine Master, Ignatius
studies in Barcelona, Alcala, Salamanca, and
Paris. In Paris, Ignatius joins first the First
Companions: Francis Xavier, Pierre Favre,
Diego Lainez, Simon Rodriguez, Nicolas
Bobadilla, and Alfonso Salmeron.
THIRD WEEK
Meditations on the Two
Standards;
Contemplations on the
Passion and Death of Jesus
ACTION
FOURTH WEEK
Contemplatio ad Amorem;
Contemplations on the
Resurrection of Jesus;
Summe et Suscipe (Take and
Receive)
EVALUATION
LOVE
Cura personalis
(Personal care)
FOUNDING THE SOCIETY OF JESUS
Iñigo changes his name to Ignatius. The First
Comapanions take their vows and promise
to serve in the Holy Land. When their travel
to Jerusalem fails, they present themselves
to Pope Paul III as the Compania de Jesus
(Society of Jesus). In 1540, the Pope issues
the bull Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae giving
his approval to the new religious order.
Ignatius becomes the first Superior General.
June-October 2011
TheBlue&Gold
HEROISM
Magis
(More)
19
RIZAL@150
Consumatum est. For some Filipinos, Rizal’s very act of martyrdom in the fields of Bagumbayan on
the morning of 30 December 1896 is the same act that Christ Jesus did when he had himself crucified on
the Cross. With his martyrdom coupled with seemingly superhuman talents and genius, Rizal must be
worshipped.
THE
DIVINE
RIZAL
and the Promise of His Second Coming
By Mr. Meljohn Tatel
W
hile the
national
media
magnify
the concentration of
Rizalistas in Laguna and
Quezon Province, little
is known about Bicol’s
hero-worshippers.
Bicol itself is peppered
with pockets of groups
worshipping Jose Rizal
as a Divine Being. One
is the home-grown
Pagsilang ng Bagong
Daigdig ni Gat Jose
Rizal founded in Abella
Street, Naga City in
1971.
Pagsilang was founded by
Vivencio Valencia of Kagbunga,
Gainza, Camarines Sur. He
consolidated the loose groups of
Rizalistas in the province. Tatay
Ben to his followers and disciples,
Valencia registered the group
in the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). Since 1971,
the group has ballooned in number
and has extended networks in the
Tagalog Region, finally settling the
group’s base in Cavite.
Erudition was no bragging
right for Valencia since he only
finished grade school in Gainza,
the province’s smallest town in the
river plains named after the late
Dominican bishop of Nueva Caceres. Despite this, Valencia was a
well-read man, reading everything
– from papers packing “tinapa” to
classics and religious readings.
More importantly, Valencia, born in
1938, prided of his ancestry for he
descended from Mariano Ordenanza, one of the 15 Bicol Martyrs.
Like the idealistic Puritan
founding fathers who left the Old
World from Plymouth aboard the
20
Photo courtesy of
Mr. Dennis Villegas
sects, holds the Catholic Church in
contempt. The group operates on
the parallelism between the clashing of Christ and the Pharisees,
Rizal and the Friars. For them, the
structure and proceedings of the
Church invite moral corruption.
Pagsilang, unlike the other
sects, value work for sustenance.
No signature religious rituals mark
the group except for their group
prayer at 3 AM. Surprisingly, years
before everyone placed hand on
one’s bosom to sing the national
anthem, members of Pagsilang
have already been using the
gesture as form of greeting to comembers as early as Martial Law
years.
Rizal , the Brown Chris
t
Mayflower, Valencia
herded members
and gathered them
in compounds.
Envisioning a good
future for his flock
of Rizalistas, Valencia invested and his
members invested
in rice farming. In
time, the group put
up restaurants, bakeries, delivery and
trucking services,
fishball factory and
food retail. The
group’s businesses employed
Rizalistas, making the pockets of
group members self-sustaining.
Valencia insisted that no member
of the group should ever starve.
He fed them and provided shelter
for them so he worked hard in his
businesses. Pagsilang attracted
members as far as Agusan in
Mindanao. Groups affiliated with
Valencia’s base in
Cavite could still
be found in the
Visayas and in
Mindanao.
Pagsilang’s
basic doctrine is
nailed on the older
Rizalista cults
sporadically found
at the foot of Mt.
Banahaw in the
Quezon Province
and Laguna. It is a
common belief for
them that Jesus
Christ so loved
the Philippine Islands that He
incarnated in the form of Dr. Jose
Rizal. Rizal’s death by musketry
is Christ’s death on the cross,
thus saving the Filipinos from the
Spanish colonial masters.
True to the commonly accepted thesis-antithesis paradigm,
Pagsilang, like other Rizalista
TheBlue&Gold
To the world, Pagsilang proclaims their three noble principles:
Maka-Diyos, Maka-bayan, and
Maka-tao. Valencia’s daughter,
Lourdes, although not bequeathed
with the rigors of leading the fragments of the group, shares that
these three noble principles are
the key to end up suffering in the
Philippines: moral decay, economic downturn and incompetent
government leadership.
On the issue of Christ or
Rizal’s second coming, the group
has a practical take on the matter.
For them Christ nor Rizal will not
physically resurrect to return to
strike fear and awe to humankind.
Instead, second coming is when
another person comes to change
the status quo and bring about an
enormous change. He brings the
Third Testament.
The demise of Tatay Ben in
1994 saw the fragmentation of
Pagsilang. The elders of the group
and the influential children of
Valencia divided Pagsilang as in
the prominent generals carving the
emppire at the death of Alexander
the Great. Yet, despite his death,
there remains the celebration of
life and freedom to hope for the
coming of the promised “one” who
will fulfill Tatay Ben’s prophecy.
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
BREATHING NEW LIFE
TO THE
BICOL
EXPRESS
By Bryan Zantua
“Stop, look, and listen.” This phrase or saying used in
some nursery rhymes can be the most familiar line we can
think of when referring to the iconic vehicle almost alien
to the younger generation. Yes, the train then was the
Bicol-Manila transportation lifeblood. That “choo-choo”
sound now reminds of nostalgia among the elderlies at
this time of classy busses and lofty plane travels. As an
icon, the government is breathing life to it.
T
he PNR (Philippine National Railways) is a
railway company operated by the government. In its heyday, PNR used to operate
about 500 km of commuter railroad from
North to South of Luzon (La Union to Bicol). But
through the years, neglect pressed down on PNR’s
operation. In President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
presidency, attention was given to breathing new life
to the PNR and restore the Manila-Bicol operation.
In three years time, changes like repairing the stations and changing the wooden tracks into concrete
tracks persistently went underway. Because the
wooden tracks are getting old and they spell danger
to the train’s passenger because as time passed by,
the durability of the wood is getting lower. PNR reopened on September 16, 2011. The head of PNR
here in the Bicol Region, Toledano Constancio, said
to us that the budget for PNR is given in long periods. That could be one or the main reason why it
took three years in rehabilitating the station. But right
now, the trains in the station are good to go with its
tracks changed into concrete.
HISTORY
PNR, on its introduction to the Philippine Islands,
was called Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan. It was on
June 25, 1875, that the Spanish King Alfonso XII.
The required Inspector of Public Works of the Philippine Islands to create a railway system plan for
Luzon. The plan was created by Don Eduardo Lopez Navarro. The construction of a railway line from
Manila to Dagupan was granted to Don Edmundo
Sykes of the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan on June
1, 1887.
Construction of the railroad and stations started
in July 1887 with the laying of the cornerstone for
Tutuban station. The maiden voyage of the Bicol Express was on September 13, 1931. The long track
from Dagupan to Legaspi was completely connected
on May 8, 1938. In time, the Ferrocarril de ManilaDagupan was renamed to Manila Railway Company.
June-October 2011
Soon it was operated by the government and became
the Philippine National Railways under Republic Act
No. 4156.
EXPERIENCE IN A TRAIN
The first look of the station, one can observe that
it is very clean. The tiles are shining and no pieces of
wrappers of any kind could be found. There were also
seats located in front of the train station for those who
are waiting for the next trip. The train schedule that is
posted near the place where one could buy tickets is
strictly followed. The train won’t wait and if the clock
struck at, for example 8 AM, it would leave at 8 AM
and would not wait for and all that can be done is to
either use another means of transportation or wait for
the next trip. Either way, the train teaches us the value
of punctuality and shows us the consequences if we
are not punctual.
Since it was my first time riding a train, I had no idea
abouot how the train works. So I just sat there and
watched in awe as the train started to move slowly
and accelerate forward towards our destination which
was Ligao. The temperature in the train was balanced.
It was not too hot like a van with its air-conditioning
machine destroyed and not too cold like a bus with
full air-conditioning units working perfectly. The wind
controlled the temperature inside the train which was
just according to my liking. Since it is on a railroad,
there was no traffic or normal interruptions like cars
colliding, drivers that are branded as pasaway and the
like could be seen. The ride went smoothly without
any interruptions but took a little slower than a regular
four-wheeled vehicle.
It is sad that some of our countrymen, by either
throwing stones to the passing train engine and
coaches; looting the railroad tracks of their prized
hardwood traveza; or by vandalizing on the decadesold stations, show no appreciation and respect to
national heritage and more importantly, to the people
work day and night to provide Filipinos of one-of-akind transportation.
TheBlue&Gold
21
RIZAL@150
15
BICOL MARTYRS,
HOW DO WE REMEMBER?
by Trisha Marie, Nikki Marie & Vienna Marie Rubio
History tells that the Philippines was
liberated by many Filipinos from
the hands of foreign oppressors. In
December 30, 1896, we remember
the brave acts done by Jose Rizal,
who died in Bagumbayan, which we
now call Luneta Park. Every 30th
of November, we remember Andres
Bonifacio who fought against the
Spaniards, along with other people
who also desired freedom. Do you know anything
of the date January 4, 1897 - or does it ring a bell?
J
anuary 4, 1897 was the day that the 11
martyrs among our 15 martyrs died in the
hands of the Spaniards for being threats
to the Spanish government. The other four
underwent other forms of torture and suffering like imprisonment and exile before they
eventually died. It is because of these martyrs
that our eyes were opened to the ugly truth
of bondage. Knowing our 15 martyrs further
could enlighten us and give us inspiration to
do courageous acts.
These 15 men who were mostly civilians
are being commemorated for their martyrdom.
They died as they led the uprising of the revolutionaries here in Bicol, and in some parts of
the Philippines, although they are not really regarded as heroes who fought the Spaniards.
That time, their conviction, torture, exile, and
unjustified deaths led to the greater awareness of the injustice happening at that time.
At the age of 60, Don Manuel Abella, who
was one of the richest people in Bicol was
executed in Bagumbayan. His son, Domingo
Abella who was a surveyor by profession, was
also executed. Another son of Don Manuel
was Ramon Abella. He was exiled to Fernan-
22
do Po Island in South Africa. Another surveyor
by the name of Mariano Arana endured the
same fate as that of Ramon Abella. Fr. Severino Diaz, Fr. Inocencio Herrera and Gabriel
Prieto together with three other secular priests
were also executed. A pharmacist, Tomas Pri-
eto who was the brother of Fr. Gabriel Prieto,
was also executed. Camilo Jacob, a photographer, suffered and starved in prison and was
executed. A musician and teacher in Colegio
de Sta. Isabel, Florencio Lerma, was accused
of rebellion and was executed. Macario Valentin, the chief of the night guards in Naga
was put to death as well. Executed along with
TheBlue&Gold
the others were two employees of the department of public works, Cornelio Mercado and
Mariano Melgarejo. Leon Hernandez was an
influential person who was tortured. Eventually, he died in prison. Mariano Ordenanza,
given a 20-year prison term, died in the Bilibid. Ramon Arana, one of the prominent residents in Nueva Caceres, now Naga City, was
also martyred. These fifteen men served as
threats to the Spanish Government as they
were accused of helping and participating in
the activities of the rebels.
They were tortured after they underwent trials in prison. They were made to confess false
statements, in order to “protect” the name of
those threatening Spaniards in the eyes of
the innocent. On January 4, 1987, 11 of the
martyrs who remained alive after the trial,
were shot at Bagumbayan. Their bodies were
buried all in one hole, as a pile, and nobody
knows where this hole is found. It may remain
a mystery for everyone, perhaps forever.
The martyrdom and heroism of these 15
men is commemorated by us, the Bicolanos,
through the monument made for them in
Plaza Quince Martirez, situated in the heart
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
An old daguerreotype photograph of the executions
of Filipinos in 1896 at the dreaded Bagumbayan,
now the Luneta Park.
15 Martyrs
of Bicol
Domingo Abella
Son of Manuel
Manuel Abella
Landlord
Ramon Abella
Son of Manuel,
Surveyor
Mariano Arana
Surveyor
P. Severino Diaz
Secular Priest
Leon Hernandez
Influential Man
P. Inocencio Herrera Camilo Jacob
Photographer
Secular Priest
of Naga City. People gather in the Plaza to
celebrate their anniversary, as what happened
this January 4, 2011, their 114thanniversary.
Likewise,some of the streets in Naga City
were named after them.
be kept out of noise and litter. Aside from
personal efforts, government measures can
help a lot. Some five years ago, the government banned cycling and skateboarding in
the area. That is something good.
Yes, it is righteous to name streets, monument or barangays, in attributionto their great works of
heroism, but these martyrs
deserve more than that. We
must remember that they suffered false accusations and
were tortured, if you could
imagine those pains. It was in
the name of pain and treachery that they were made to
confess lies in order to save
them, but eventually they met
horrible deaths.
As the symbols are kept sacred, we can
be further inspired to get to know
more about our fifteen martyrs’
lives – the reasons behind their
martyrdom and how each one of
them lived and died.
In this modern times, how
do we pay our fifteen martyrs
the respect that they deserve?
We can start by respecting their martyrdom
through respecting the symbols dedicated
to them. The Plaza Quince Martirez must
June-October 2011
We Bicolanos can actually
learn many things from their act
of heroism. Let us make them
as inspirations of love, faith and
sacrifice. It is in love that we
all remain united, shouting in
one solid voice for everybody’s
good. It is in faith that fear, pain,
and sorrow are conquered. It is
in sacrifice that humility is present and that inspirations are made. Indeed,
our Bikol Martyrs have taught all of us different lessons which we can apply in our own
lives in order that we share these same values to others.■
TheBlue&Gold
Florencio Lerma
Music Teacher
Mariano Melgarejo Cornelio Mercado Mariano Ordenanza
Public Works
Businessman
Public Works
Employee
Employee
Tomas Prieto
Pharmacist
P. Gabriel Prieto
Secular Priest
Macario Valentin
Sargeant
IT RUNS IN THE BLOOD
Jose Barcena Jr, the artist who
created the ORAGON monument
fronting the Naga City People’s
Mall (Naga City Supermarket), is
the great grandson of Federico
Barcena from Pampanga.
Federico Barcena sculpted the
monument to the 15 Bicol Martyrs
unveiled in 1926. The monument
was designed by Crispulo
Zamora.
23
RIZAL@150
NUEVA CAMARINES:
Parting is Such
a Sweet Sorrow
by Rickdane Gomez and Isis Normagne Pascual
Juliet, bidding goodbye to Romeo, who killed her
cousin Tybalt, said, “Parting is such a sweet sorrow.”
Oxymoron. And it has puzzled centuries of lovers
and Shakespeare addicts. Now, same is true with
“Duwang Camarines, doble ang progress, duwang
Camarines is the best. Doble ang asenso, doble ang
progreso, duwang Camarines, yes na yes....”
A
familiar line of a jingle, aired in radios
and televisions during commercial
breaks about the partition of Camarines
Sur goes like this. The question is, is this jingle
enough to convince the people of Cam. Sur
that it’s time to divide the province into two?
For the past few years, Camarines Sur had
been soaring into greater heights in terms
of popularity, particularly in the field of Tourism. Famous places like CWC and Caramoan
beaches had been drawing thousands of tourists, in fact last year, 2010, the number of
tourist arrival reached a peak of 2.33 million
visitors, both in domestic and foreign arrival
according to the Department of Tourism.
other hand is aimed to have better water and
drainage systems since it is always left flooded during typhoons and takes many weeks
before the flood is totally reduced.
On one hand, another faction clings on to the
the status quo. Everything is acceptable. The
present condition is well enough that dividing
the entire expanse of the province embracing
boundaries with Quezon Province, Camarines
Norte and Albay will put a halt on what its current leadership has reaped, earned and won
But even though the province seems
to have its golden age in tourism, poverty
is still faced down by the province. Some
parts of Cam. Sur are still heavily affected
by the latest typhoons that hit it, and the
said abundant funds of the capitol gained
from those tourist spots are not evenly distributed to the affected areas.
Because of this, some known government officials already passed a bill that
would carve out the new province of Nueva
Camarines from the 4th and 5th districts
of Cam. Sur, mainly known as the Partido
and Rinconada districts. Deputy Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, 4th District Representative,
is the principal author of House Bill 4728 and
its amended final version, House Bill 4820.
Through this bill, Fuentebella aims to give a
better future to the residents of the Partido
District since the said district was once an underdeveloped district with no up-to-date water
system, no well organized telecommunication
services, no main road network backbone
system, no quick electrification plan, and poor
health services. The Rinconada district on the
24
deny the weight of reality behind it. Many are
not in favor of this partition because it looks like
only political interest is behind it, in fact some
officials said that this bill is only a scheme that
would make Fuentebella who is in his last term
as congressman run for governor in the new
province he want to create.
Considering the fact that many provinces
in our country, especially in Bicol which separated from their mother province are now
more progressive (Catanduanes and Masbate
for example which separated from Albay),
partition of Camarines Sur into two is still
debatable. But no matter what happens to
this partition, be it proclaimed official or not,
one thing must never be parted, and it is
our identity as Bicolanos- being one for all,
being BORONYOG.
Should the premise hold true? Bicol was
only one and single province then until
it bacame Ambos Camarines and Tierra
de Ibalon. Years later, Ambos Camarines
became Camarines Sur and Camarines
Norte. Eventually, Catanduanes bid goobye
to Albay and so did Masbate from Sorsogon. Will Nueva Camarines soon extend her
waving arm and flying kisses in goodbyes?
as prize trophies. Thus, they cast doubt on the
brewing intention behind the move to divide:
self-serving political ambition to fine tune the
creation of a local political empire.
Going back to the lyrics of the song, I remember hearing a comment from a student
here in our school. If Cam. Sur would be divided into two, the progress would be doubled,
so, why not just divide the province into ten so
that there would be ten times the progress?
It may sound immature but we really cannot
TheBlue&Gold
Now that you have the knowledge, it’s up
to you to make your own stand. Partition of
Camarines Sur- are you in favor or not? Still,
the bill may be thoroughly scrutinized and debated on in the Congress and the Senate, but
the decision will be from the Camarinenses to
give.
Indeed, the partition is like putting a halt to
Romeo and Juliet’s romance. It is both sweet
and sorrowful. Yet we have to remember that
every tragedy results from a tragic fault - the
wrong decision the main character makes that
leads to his or her death. ■
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
SPOOKY PLACES
HAIR-RAISING
EXPERIENCES
By Trisha Marie Rubio & Mike Real;
Photos by Cecille San Buenaventura, Mike Real,
Adrian Olivan & Mr Meljohn Tatel
The GARCHITORENA MANSION
The ALMEDA Ancestral House
Abella Street, Naga City
Sitio Matiway, San Felipe, Naga City
Building the structure started in the 1920’s as a
wedding gift to the rich Garchitorena newly-wed
daughter and her husband. A person violently
died in the initial phase of its construction.
Everytime construction resumes, a worker dies.
Many have died and the building has been left
unfinished ever since.
One of the best preserved and maintained heritage houses in the city, the Almeda house was
built in 1941. When the Japanese Imperial Army
occupied the city, it was converted to a hospital.
Many dread the house for mysterious groaning
sounds at night. Ghostly images of persons are
reportedly seen peeking from windows of the
rooms in the upper floor.
Built during the Commonwealth era of the
Philippines, the house was sold to the Almedas
by an American. Secludedly located, the house
has another frightening bonus: the creepy and
ominous gigantic balete tree beside it. Ghost
hunters report seeing elementals and harmless
spirits in the abandoned house.
Tigaon, Camarines Sur
The ALMEDA Rest House
ON HALLOWED
GROUNDS
RESTING PLACES OF
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Msgr. Teopisto Alberto, DD
2nd Archbishop of Caceres
June-October 2011
Don Macario Mariano
Landowner & Philanthropist
TheBlue&Gold
Senator Raul Roco
Congressman, Sanator &
Former DepEd Secretary
Don Victor Bichara
Former Owner & Operator of
Theaters in Naga
25
RIZAL@150
BRO. PHILIP YOHAN SJ
VINCENT STA.CLARA
Photos by Adrian Olivan
Bro. Philip or Pip is a Jesuit scholastic
completing his regency formation here
in Naga. Bro.Philip is an architect by
profession before joining the Jesuits. He
was born and raised in Pasay City. For his
grade and high school studies, he went
to Baclaran Elementary School and St.
Andrew Catholic School respectively. He
completed his collegiate degree in Mapua
Institute of Technology. His favorite color
is blue and his favorite song is “Wonderful
World”. He handles Religion classes in 1st
year. (Charline Daliva)
Sir Vince belongs to the HS Class of 2006.
He once belonged to the Honors Class.
He graduated from the Ateneo de Naga
University College of Education. His major
is Science Education. Sir Vince is a big fan
of Naruto. Ask anything about the anime
and he will respond right away with laserlike precision. Now he handles 1st and 3rd
year classes. He proudly proclaims, “I’d like
to regain the old practices in the Ateneo
to, at least, change the attitudes of the
Ateneans.” (Christian Bertumen)
IVY MAGISTRADO
Maam Ivy spent
her elementary
and secondary
years at the University of St. Anthony in Iriga City.
Now she’s taking
graduate studies
at the University
of Nueva Caceres. She finished
her bachelor’s
degree (Political
Science) at the
Ateneo de Naga University. At first, her father wanted her to take up Nursing. But she
wanted to take Political Science. But when
she started studying PolSci, it seemed nobody could stop her. Luckily, she finished
her studies and was awarded Magna Cum
Laude for her hard work in academics. She
handles 1st year Social Studies classes.
MARK VIRAY
Perceived as witty and somewhat strict, Sir Mark Viray is one of the
rookies in the faculty. He graduated from this school in both high school
and college. Back then Sir Mark encountered difficult subjects but found
one subject that he would consider to be fun and interesting - Computer
Studies. Yet it gave him headache too but look at him now he is teaching
the subject he loves with a lot of effort. During his student years, Sir
Mark played Counterstrike, hanged out and picked someone up at the
Cathedral. Teaching is very hard but for him the only difficulties are the
misbehaving students who reminded him of himself during his student life.
To relax, he listens to punk music and drinks coffee to relax and have a
good time. (Aeron Geosh Gomez)
PAOLO NAVERA
Sir Paolo has the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “Letters to Juliet” as his favorite movies. He’s in a rave for movies. Sir Paolo
hails from island of Samar. He graduated from the Elementary
and High School in Landusan, Northern Samar. For his collegiate studies, he went to Ateneo de Naga University. He earned
a degree from the College of Education. He majored in Physical
Education, Health, and Music (PEHM). He plays the guitar
in his spare time. He urges the Ateneas “to keep moving to
achieve success and set an example for others.” (Adrian Olivan)
THE
(Ted Aaron Dogillo)
MARIELE BRUTAS
For many, Maam Mariele is heaven-sent.
Everybody thinks he’s a divine being.
Why? She finished her course garnering
Summa Cum Laude, the award in college.
Maam Mariele majored
Mathematics in the College
of Education from the Ateneo de Naga University.
She graduated from
Camarines Sur Natl.
High School (Scienceoriented Curriculum).
She handles 1st and
2nd Math. The phenomenal Harry Potter
series is her favorite
book. (Emerson Borja)
FROMJO REYES
Sir Fromjo’s reason for returning
to Ateneo is to”show his gratitude
and pay back to the school”. His
motto is “Carpe Diem” or “seize
the Day” - get every opprtunity
because it only comes once. He
belongs to Class 2007 of Ateneo
HS. Sir Fromjo is a graduate of
Bachelor of Secondary Education
Major in English. His favorite
teacher is Sir Willy Niebres and he likes “chicken
tinola”. He likes playing basketball, football and volleyball. Now he handles 1st year English classes and
he expects his students and other Ateneans to “men
and women for others.” (Zera Alba)
MICHELLE LARA
Ma’am Lara teaches English
among first year students. She
graduated from Universidad de
Sta. Isabel and received various
awards like; Outstanding Student
in College and Outstanding in
Practicum during her college
days. She a year teaching stint at
the Aquinas University Laboratory
High School before joining the
Ateneo team. She believes that
“who dares win”. Maam Mich,
was a boarding high school student at the exclusive secondary
school run by the Sisters of Mary.
She is very approachable and
has an interesting personality.
(Denise Geandra Tan)
EUFEMIO PEÑANO
Sir Euphi is the new staff in the Related Services Office. He describes
himself as extremely “mabangis” like his batchmates in Class 1992 in
Ateneo de Naga High School. He is a native of Sipocot, Camarines
Sur. In college, he finished Business Management from the Ateneo
de Naga College. As in his college days, he is still into mountain
climbing and basketball. He was a member of the mountineering club
HAGAHAG. Before joining again Ateneo now as an employee, he used
to be connected with the province’s tourism operation in Gota Beach in
Caramoan. For the Ateneans, he declares: “Feed your mind!” (Adrian
Olivan)
26
TheBlue&Gold
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
BRO. SHERWIN SANTOS SJ
Bro. Sherwin, who loves Calculus, is a native of Pampanga.
He went to the University of the Philippines (Diliman) and
earned his degree in Chemical Engineering. He likes reading
books, playing volleyball, table tennis and chess. Movies and
books are chosen over cars. He likes movies that are intellectually stimulating like “American Beauty”. Among his favorite
books are Dostoyevsky’s “Brothers Karamazov” and Rowling’s
“Harry Potter” series. Brother Sherwin likes chocolates and
people who are dreamers. (Zera Alba)
IRENE AUSTRIA
A graduate of Dr. Rodolfo V.
Paanor Memorial National High
School and Ateneo De Naga University, Ma’am Irene is a visionary.
She wants to leave a mark to the
students she will teach to give an
impact and make a difference a
rarity among teachers. Like everyone else, she had crushes and
encountered hard subjects. There
was a time that she dropped a
subject because her crush was
also there. She lived in a dorm for
three and a half years so basically
her life was an adventure. She’s
now a Filipino teacher. She wants
students to love the subject and
treat it as equal to the other subjects. Despite of the challenges
she experiences in work she manages to relax
by making
poems both
in English
and Filipino.
(Aeron Geosh
Gomez)
MA DOLOR LUISA FRANCISCO
Maam Yani, as she is
fondly called, is the
new addition to the
Principal’s Office team.
She completed her
secondary course from
the Universidad de Sta.
Isabel. She graduated
from the Ateneo de
Naga University. In her
spare time, she loves
singing, watching movies and surfing the
net. She’s into RNB songs. For the high
school students, she says, “enjoy high
school life and make all efforts to be a good
and responsible student.” (Adrian Olivan)
MARIANNE
STO.DOMINGO
This school
year is
the start
of Maam
Marianne’s
post as the
High School
Librarian.
Our library
is under
the jurisdiction of Fr. James
O’Brien Library. Librarians
from the Main Campus take
a two-or-three year post on
rotation. Maam Marianne was
born in the feast day of the
Immaculate Conception and
that is reason for having her
name. She graduated from the
Ateneo de Naga University and
joined the Library team after
her studies. She spent high
school years in Cam. Sur Nat’l.
High School. She specializes
in Information Technology
and she likes listening to rock
music.
REY CECILIA
Sir Rey joins the pantheon of great products of the
College of Education of the Ateneo de Naga University.
Since then, he has been adhering to his maxim: “Eagles
don’t fly. They soar high.” Likewise, he expects his students to consider the same. He graduated Magna Cum
Laude from college. His Education major is BiologyChemistry. He was a product of San Fernando’s Planza
Elementary School and San Gabriel-San Isidro High
School. Also, he has long been a fan of the inspirational
and mystical writer Paolo Coelho. Among his favorites
is the recent novel “Veronica Decides to Die.” He also
loves to read science fiction. His favorite movie is “The
Number 23.” (Adrian Olivan)
CARLO GACER
Sir Carlo remembers well his favorite line from
the Academy Award winner movie “Forrest
Gump”: “Break even by the script.” He wants
Ateneans to consider this. Sir Carlo graduated in 2003 from the Ateneo High School.
Afterwards, he joined the Holy Rosary Minor
Seminary and earned his degree in Philosophy. In his leisure time, he indulges in reading
and watching movies. He is currently handling
Religion classes of 2nd year students. (Adrian
Olivan)
MICHAEL DEL ROSARIO
Sir Mike is the new member of the
Guidance Department. He handles
counseling sessions with freshmen. He is a product of the Ateneo
de Naga University. He earned
his degree in Psychology from the
university’s College of Arts and Sciences. He loves reading books and
all types of books are fine with him.
He also listens classical music, pop,
and jazz. (Adrian Olivan)
The Ateneo de Naga University High School
welcomes new faculty members to complete
the Chinese Studies cluster for the school
year. The teachers are sent by Fujian Guo Ji
Jiao Yu Jiao Liu Xie Hui (Fujian International
Education Communication Association). They
also receive teaching assistance from the
HANBAN, the Department of Education’s
counterpart in Mainland China.
ANNIE HUANG XIAO JUAN
Huang Laoshi or Maam Annie
is a native of Longhai City
Zhangzhou in Fujian Province
of Mainland China. She graduated from Quanzhou Normal
University. She majored
in Teaching Chinese as a
Second Language. She loves
dancing, reading and playing
badminton. She is also a great
singer.
DOLLY YU LING PIN
Maam Dolly loves to do Chinese crafts like paper cutting,
paper folding and Chinese
knots. She also loves reading
and traveling. She is a native of Ningde City in Fujian
Province. She completed her
elementary and high school in
Ningde Nos. 1 and 9 School.
From Quanzhou Normal University, she earned the degree
in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. She
also loves to watch movies. (Adrian Olivan)
SARAH ZHENG DAN PING
Zheng Laoshi is an avid fan of
Harry Potter. She has read all
the series both in Chinese and
English Language. She says,
“I’m very happy to be in the
Philippines. I love my students
and I love the Filipinos.”
Teacher Sarah is an excellent
and an awarded marathon
runner. Also, she does reading
and traveling in her spare
time. She completed her course in Teaching Chinese
from Quanzhou Normal University.
TINA CHEN YONG FANG
Maam Tina finished elementary studies from Zieshan
Elementary School. For high
school, she went to Zhenghe
Yishong. She earned her
college degree in Teaching
Chinese from Quanzhou
Normal University. She enjoys
mountain climbing. Her favorite
movies are “Gan” and “Yo Te
Amo”. For the Ateneo community she says, “I enjoy my stay in the Philippines.
people here are very kind and friendly.”
PAUL FRANCIS LAGARDE
Surprisingly, his nickname is “Ken”. He is a true
blue Atenean as he belongs to HS Batch 2007.
He graduated elementary from Naga Parochial
School. He is connected with the College of
Education of the Ateneo de Naga University with
Physics as his Major. He is currently handling 4th
year classes, Back in his high school days, he
was well sought after for performances in dancing
and singing. (Adrian Olivan)
June-October 2011
Lao shi, hao!
TheBlue&Gold
27
RIZAL@150
“By the
railroad track
I sat down
and clicked”
Cecille San Buenaventura
The BLUE&GOLD PHOTOJOURNALISM TEAM
Cecille San Buenaventura
With the Philippine National
Railways (PNR) in the limelight
for the much hyped rehabilitation,
the BLUE&GOLD scours the once
busy Naga Station and boards
its coaches bound for Ligao,
the last pitstop in Bicol. Armed
with cameras, the BLUE&GOLD
documents in a photo-essay the
railroad life and a day’s nostalgic
ride in the vintage mode of
transportation that was once the
lifeblood to the Bicol abaca trade.
Surprisingly, it bequeathed the
region’s spicy dish its name - the
Bicol Express.
Cecille San Buenaventura
Cecille San Buenaventura
28
TheBlue&Gold
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
Mike Real
Mike Real
Meljohn Tatel
The signature “choochoo” and the rhythmic
trudge on the track
transport passengers
back to the 1930s
when the train was the
fastest way to reach
places from Manila to
Legaspi. The Central
Bus Terminal now is
what Naga Station was
in its heyday. A ride in
the Bicol Express is
like taking part in the
national heritage which
has been around for
more than a century.
Cecille San Buenaventura
Mike Real
Mike Real
Mike Real
Mike Real
Mike Real
Mike Real
June-October 2011
TheBlue&Gold
29
RIZAL@150
SNAPSHOTS
Traslacion
Photos by Mr. Meljohn Tatel
Opening of Classes
Schola Brevis
Traslacion
Intrams Opening
30
Intrams Opening
TheBlue&Gold
Mr. & Ms. Intrams
June-October 2011
RIZAL@150
Hiroshima Gakuin Visit
Mr. & Ms. Intrams
Mass for Pedring Victims
Pagsungko ni Ina
Intrams Opening
Traslacion
June-October 2011
Hiroshima Gakuin Visit
TheBlue&Gold
Science Week Magic Show
Pagsungko ni Ina
Pagsungko ni Ina
31
RAUL ROCO+
HS 63, Congressman
Senator
DepEd Secretary
ATENEO HIGH SCHOOL:
A TRADITION OF ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
JESSE ROBREDO
HS 74, City Mayor
DILG Secretary
ATENEO
FORMING LEADERS
SINCE 1940
SALVIO FORTUNO
HS 62, Congressman
JAMES JACOB
HS 73, Congressman
LTFRB Chief
ENTRANCE AND SCHOLARSHIP EXAM
January 21, 2012 – Saturday
Covered Courts, Pacol Campus
8.00-11.00 Morning Session
1.00-4.00 Afternoon Session
CONRADO DE QUIROS
HS 69, Journalist
OTHER TESTING DATES
HS Guidance Office, 8.00-11.00 AM only
February 4, 11, 18 – 2012
March 3, 10, 24, 31 – 2012
April 14, 21, 28 – 2012
May 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 30 – 2012
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1. PAY THE TESTING FEE (P100) at the Treasurer’s Offices (Main campus or Pacol
campus); 2. Fill out the Application Form & Exam Permit, and attach 2 pcs 1x1 picture
with yellow background; 3. Bring the accomplished Application Form & Exam Permit
during the scheduled date of testing.
SCHOLARSHIP & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
a) Valedictorian/Salutatorian scholarship
b) Entrance Exam placers
c) Grant-In-Aid
d) Government Assistance
JOSE ANSELMO CADIZ
HS 74, Solicitor General