“Parokya ni Edgar reprises a Jim Paredes classic “Saan na nga ba ang barkada?” rewritten to now ask the question, “Saan ka na TD Kuya?” The moniker refers to the Atenean HS Kuya who in their senior year tutored public elementary school students, providing quality learning interactions for two hours a week. The music video itself features past TD Kuyas, among them Dingdong Dantes, Chef Rolando Laudico, and Blue Eagles Wes Gonzales and Kiefer Ravena.

Jim Paredes’ timeless lyrics capture the essence of the relationships between the members of the TD Barkada: “Nagsimula ang lahat sa eskwela…”

(Video Description from Tulong Dunong’s Official YouTube Page)

Visit https://tulongdunong.org for more information about Tulong Dunong.

*We’d like to hear from you! For any errors in the info posted above, kindly email us at info@ateneoalumniassociation.org

The future is bright for SIBOL-Magis first honor Rainier B. Arranchado along with 20 other pupils who graduated from the third GK-AAA Payatas Molave SIBOL School Graduation held last April 15, 2012 at the Payatas Multi-Purpose Hall.  Of the 21 pupils, 11 have moved up to Prep (also known as the Sibol-Animo pupils) while 10 have graduated to Grade 1 (also known as the Sibol-Magis pupils).

It was a special afternoon for both the GK Community and the Ateneo Alumni Association as the kids marched on stage to receive their diploma. The Sibol-Magis graduates were even wearing white togas making the event more special. Though the occasion was far from elaborate, it drew a lot of smiles from the audience, and some even tears of joy. After the ceremony, a small salu-salo was prepared for the graduates.

“While only a few could become valedictorian or salututorians, each one can always work hard, study hard to do their best.” – Frederico D. Ocampo, AAA President

In the closing remarks delivered by AAA President Mr. Frederico D. Ocampo, he focused on two important words – sibol and magis. According to Mr. Ocampo, “sibol implies [na] nag uumpisa pa lang sila and kailangan natin silang alagaan para maging malakas na puno. Magis means striving for excellence in whatever they do. While only a few could become valedictorian or salututorians, each one can always work hard, study hard to do their best.”

Present in the event  are: Mr. Frederico D. Ocampo (current AAA President), Mr. Ramon B. Nolido (current AAA  Vice President), Ms. Arlene D. Ticzon (Coll ’93 Class Representative), and Senior Alumni Mr. Jesus dela Fuente  (past AAA President).

The event was organized by Sibol Program Manager, Ms. Maida Ventura, Sibol teacher Mrs. Marylrose Vinluan and former member of the AAA Board of Directors, Mr. Nonong Velasco.

Congratulations to all GK-AAA Sibol Graduates!

Click on the gallery below!

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Raph Doval-Santos shares his inspiring piece on the Sibol School Graduation held at the AAA-GK Village (Lower Molave) at Payatas, Quezon City last April 15, 2012.

We say “Leave it to the pros.” Computer busted? Car not starting? Legal trouble? We turn to experts. They know the answers. They know how to get it done. They make problems go away.

When the AAA took on the GK-Molave village as its own, the dream was to help the people of the community slowly rise. Houses had to be built, and programs had to be implemented. This was not just “pogi points” for the alumni; it was a microcosm of problems we faced as a country. Much expertise from the alumni was brought to bear – engineers, lawyers, community organizers, and more.

Progress has been made since, but that’s not what struck me at my latest visit last Sunday. It wasn’t the experts that had the greatest signs of impact. That day, I saw it come from a willing volunteer.

Maida Ventura, of Batch ’98, had long dreamt of being a teacher. That didn’t happen. What happened in 2009, however, was her taking part with the AAA through the GK-Molave village’s SIBOL program. The program would help pre-school children get a head-start for school, with lessons particularly in English and Math. She volunteered to take part in starting the program, and got down to work.

Three years later, I was in a room at the Payatas main dump site, fully packed with the families of people from Molave. Everybody was dressed in their Sunday’s best. There were close to two dozen little children, about half dressed in white togas and caps. They were the Magis and Animo scholars of the SIBOL program, and all set for the bigger challenges of school ahead. It was both a testament to Mai’s talent and a deep-rooted belief from both the Ateneo alumni community, and the Molave villagers of what could be.

 If I told you that “we went to the city landfill to see young children move up from pre-school,” you’d think I was crazy.

I was hard-pressed to find dry eyes. There were proud parents, elder brothers, elder sisters, and friends. Everybody who had a camera kept snapping pictures. And so many smiles all around! The AAA’s representatives were 2012 President Fritz Ocampo, past AAA Presidents Ramby Nolido and Jess de la Fuente, AAA 2012 Board Member AR Ticzon, AAA Social Involvement Committee leader Nonong Velasco, and AAA Executive Director Monica Aranzamendez joined in the festivities and food that followed. There were parents with their children hand-in-hand, taking in the afternoon. People approached Maida, asking for a photo with her, like she was a famous actress! Volunteers filled in other tasks like keeping dishes clean and guests served, thanks to the abundance of snacks.

It’s a stark contrast to the world around them. If I told you that “we went to the city landfill to see young children move up from pre-school,” you’d think I was crazy. The road there was typical Payatas – garbage, hardship, smoke, and smells of decaying detritus. There were walls stained with black soot form fires, as children tried to crudely refine scrap copper, at risk to their lungs. This is the fate most children of the area have been introduced to for decades, and it still exists to this day.

Yet, here were families on a bright Sunday afternoon, their children about to begin the next chapter in their schooling. I was told later that many of them move on to the SIKAP program, and later their grade school’s honor roll. I also met some youth who were currently first year in college, and were active in the SIGA program for teenagers. The GK-Molave village itself seemed different from my last visit – children playing sports, families together taking in their day of rest, fewer stray animals. The signs of growth were everywhere, in small and simple ways.

Amid the excitement, I kept quiet and watched. The children never stopped talking to each other and chasing after each other. They were having fun joking, and poking tickles at each other, and making up dances without background music. Their parents were having fun watching. Our problems, that afternoon, went away, all thanks to the simple genius of children at play.

Maybe they’ll finish school. Maybe they won’t. Maybe we’ll see the GK program fold up, our losses cut. Maybe we’ll be celebrating the day when one of these children will become the next Quezon City Mayor, or even the next Philippine president. Maybe we’ll be shaking hands with one of the villagers of Payatas, as their son receives their diploma from the Ateneo. Whatever the case, we owe it to these people, and to our own families and children, to try and build the best possible future for everybody. If it means we work one child at a time, one family at a time, and one community at a time, then we’ll get it sorted.

The sun set later that afternoon. It was bright and sharp. So bright, that it was tough to see. I like to think that’s what these children’s future might be.

Who says you can’t party on a Monday? On the eve of Labor Day, members of the Ateneo High School Alumni Class of ‘76/’77/’78/’79/’80/’83 gathered at the famous Strumm’s in Jupiter St., Makati for a night of music, memories, and enjoyment. Live music from the late ‘70s to the early ‘90s was played throughout the evening by Strumm’s regular, the 8-Track band.

Among those who attended are: Mr. Frederico D. Ocampo (current AAA President), Atty. Jose Antonio K. Veloso (2011 AAA President), Mr. Ramon B. Nolido (current AAA  Vice President), and Ms. Arlene D. Ticzon (Coll ’93 Class Representative).

The Ateneo Alumni Association had also set-up a small booth for membership registration and even gave out freebies for those who applied for lifetime membership.

For the rest of the pictures, click on the gallery below.

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The C0mpany of Ateneo Dancers (CADS) and Henson Wongaiham (HS ’04, Coll ’08) had their memes featured in the latest TV commercial in the Department of Tourism’s campaign “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” The meme “Meetings” was taken from a short clip from a CADS video while the “Tour Guides” photo was taken by Wongaiham at the Banaue Rice Terraces back in 2009.

The 50-second TV ad featured images of various locations in the Philippines and carrying different witty statements on why it’s more fun in the Philippines.

Congratulations fellow Ateneans!

Watch the full video below.

COLLEGE ’82 30th Anniversary Reunion
with HIGH SCHOOL ’78
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 18 – 20, 2012

PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES
Friday, May 18
5:30 – 8:00PM

CHATEAU’S BEER GARDEN at PARIS HOTEL
Kick-off the class reunion with cocktails/mixers at Chateau’s Beer Garden, 2nd floor at Paris Hotel. The purpose is to get everyone reacquainted with each other after 30 years!. Everyone is on their own after 8PM to enjoy the Vegas nightlife either for dinner, a show, nightclub, gambling or separate gathering with old “barkadas”. A bunch of us are watching the Criss Angel Cirque du Soleil show at 9:30 at the Luxor hotel. Please make your own dinner/show arrangements before space/tickets are sold out.

12 Midnight – 2:00AM
COSMIC BOWLING at RED ROCK LANES. Please contact Gilbert Gonzales if you are interested at sebflytehk@yahoo.com. One lane has been reserved which can accommodate 8 people. The cost is $85 for 2 hours of bowling to be split among the participants.

Saturday, May 19
9:30 AM
GOLF – Painted Desert Golf Club (Green Fee $55, Callaway rental clubs $30). Please contact Loy Labayen at loylabayen@yahoo.com. All golfers gather at 9:30 AM at the lobby of the Flamingo hotel. Departure for Painted Desert is at 9:45AM. Transportation is being arranged. Tee time is at 11:00AM. Loy is arranging the pairings and tee-off times.

http://www.facebook.com/l/nAQH1ilX2/painteddesertgc.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=1132&page=67763

11:00 AM
BRUNCH at the Flamingo Hotel ($21.95; Join the Flamingo’s Total Rewards Club and get a couple of dollars off)

http://www.facebook.com/l/oAQEenqP4/www.flamingolasvegas.com/casinos/flamingo-las-vegas/restaurants-dining/paradise-garden-buffet-detail.html

12:00 Noon – approximately 4:00 PM

HOOVER DAM DAY TRIP. Please contact Sandy Sayson at drmommy@sayson.net or (727) 809-2166. (Visitor Center tickets $8). A mini-van has been rented, the cost of which will be shared by those going. SPACE IS LIMITED so contact Sandy ASAP. Meet for brunch at 11AM above to leave by 12 Noon. Gilbert Gonzalez is driving.

http://www.facebook.com/l/BAQGscfFm/www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

Time TBD
SPA – Bong Carlos (HS ’78) is arranging the spa outing. If you are interested please contact Bong at jbcarlos22@gmail.com

Evening
7:00 – 11:00PM
COLLEGE ’82 and HIGH SCHOOL ’78 REUNION DINNER
CARSON CITY I ROOM at the FLAMINGO HOTEL on the Las Vegas Strip
Cost is $93 per person
ATTIRE: Please come in your best (jacket and tie encouraged for men)
AGENDA
6:30 – 7:00 PM Registration
7:00 – 7:30 Welcome remarks
7:30 – 8:00 Mass to be officiated by Fr. Frank Ynciera
8:00 onwards Plated dinner service
Survey results
Guest Speaker – Mr. Jun Dalandan, Ateneo Director for Alumni Relations
Program – Powerpoint presentation by Jo-jo Perlas
Swing dancing to 11PM!

11:00 PM

CHATEAU NIGHT CLUB – PARIS HOTEL
My Flamingo contact will get us in with no cover charge

Sunday, May 20
11:00 AM
MASS at Our Lady of Las Vegas, 3050 Alta Dr, Las Vegas

12:30PM
Brunch at the Wicked Spoon ($29 per person) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109, (702) 698-7000

Afternoon – Time TBD
Poolside Party – meet at Flamingo Hotel poolside for drinks

Painted Desert Golf Club painteddesertgc.com

Our Warmest Greetings from the Ateneo Alumni Association!