a tribute to a mentor

Maka TAO, Maka DIYOS, Maka ESTUDYANTE, Maka Bayan, Maka Kalikasan

How can I define Alyansang Atenista? The AA experience has defined me more than I can define it. There seem to be no enough words to capture my AA experience.  Nevertheless, I will try.

AA made a big impact in my life. It has shaped me in many ways - my opinion, my attitude, my perspective in life. My batch mates at the party were Milben Asombrado, Ruby Valdez, Rex Almacen,  Benjie Reyes, Erwin Supremo, Happy Koronel,  Donna Carreon,  Catherine Gabriel, Carlo Ibarle and many more. The year was 1992 to 1997 On my Freshmen year, during my collegiate extra curricular initiation at FLTS programs of the University, I was invited by some seniors to run for the Legislative branch of Central Student Government 1993-94.  My eventual election became my introduction to student activism. The party meetings and campaign oriented me to the party. There was no constructive way of selection and training protégés.  It was more of a movement with no exact direction. I guess that is one unique characteristic of AA,  it the polar attraction of magis that pulls student leaders together.  The feeling of   “ there must be something more”.

It must have been fate that led me to the doors of AA. Its not a characteristic of a freshman to exactly know what type of career he wants in college.  However, knowing the personality behind Alyansang Atenista was awakening to me - a young, naïve and highly impressionistic freshman as myself.  Their charisma, enthusiasm and  leadership  was contagious.  We learned so much from the role modeling of James, Ian,  Armi and Cathy. There were more variety of personalities as Revel, Evalet, Cathy,  Chona, Jon, Abigail, and Paul during meetings, class room campaigns and political rallies. The pep talks from the seniors and alumni emboldened our resolve to fight no matter the circumstance. A manifestation of the famous Ateneo  yell “ fight fight blue and white go go ateneo sis bomba”.  My first introduction to coaching and mentoring was with AA. The older ones were always so eager to help and encourage the younger one; in similar manner the alumni’s support for the incumbent.  Bong, Roy and Raymund were always around to give practical tips and stories of old. During the middle 90s the traditions of AA were passed on orally. Traditions as pansit and loaf broad bread, the 7am main gate lamano, the cologne hand shake trick, the flower to a female opponent, the persistent classroom and  dorm campaigns were instructed to us by elders; not by instruction manuals. Gung Ho , as we were, we were always eager to execute the campaign strategies; raw and talented, we were stretched to our limits in managing various individual challenges in life, academic and extra curricular

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The exercise of classroom campaign has honed my various skills as courage, face to face communication, resiliency, persistency and achievement orientation. The competence of planning is honed in managing extra curricular activities and academic requirements. Creative and strategic thinking is enhanced in brainstorming election campaign plans. Motivation and attitude, two key components of leadership is manifested in persuading people to run for office and to vote for certain candidates. While Xavier provided me the foundation of a holistic formation, Alyansang Atenista gave me my first crack at Management and Leadership. Legendary terms I will come to wrestle with for the next 15 years in the capacity of a Sales and Distribution Manager. Competencies I will pursue relentlessly after college.

Having to face great odds with AA’s five year losing streak with Jame’s gaining the CSG Presidency by default with Anton Siatong’s personal setbacks, it was a lot of work for two succeeding AA administration under Jon Cuenca and my leadership.  We lost Armi’s bid for the CSG Presidency but we won by landslide the following year winning the top two key CSG and College council positions.  The 1997 landslide was an emotional protest of young AA leaders on the unjust political maneuver of ASAP Revolutionary Student Government,  political decision made without the proper representation and consultative process, and perhaps, the challenge posed by the defeat of the previous CSG and Council slate of candidates. 

There were a lot of good AA memories.  The controversial catwalk constructed under the leadership of James saved many student shoes from wet and dirt during rainy season. Not to mention, our session on Jame’s infamous ludabi speeches. Meetings were always full of games and laughter with Evalet’s and Nanette’s funny stories. Meetings grow from cold to dead serious with Ian’s no nonsense discussions on CSG trivial issues. And of course, the flavor just gets better with the addition of more AA charismatic Alumni in the person of Raymund and Roy Raagas. I can still smell the fresh wind from the shores of Raaga’s beach during Meetings and Seminars;  when AA had no funds the Alumni was always there to support in creative ways as Roy’s sponsorship of venue. The last but not the least -  Raymund’s undying support for the party. The encouragement and the moral support of a Genuine student leader in his time and a Top Rate manager has touched so many young men. 

More than the words these people have given, the Alyansang Atenista phenomenon have been demonstrated in the lives of so many Alumni and incumbents, which to this date, aspires and emulates the ideals of the party – maka kalikasan, maka estudyante, maka diyos, maka tao, maka bayan.  I guess its because of these ideals that we are sustained in AA; ideals which are very true inside the university as it is out side its walls. The issues we have inside the university are the very same issues we encounter in the real world. They may appear in different masks but we are too familiar with their characters –Apathy, Cowardice, Colonial Mentality, Identity Crisis.  We are masters of our situation and we have not winced in the face of opposition. We are men of courage whose motto in life is excelsus.

Indeed, we are a nation who thirst for heroes and higher ideals. There is a need to refresh our conviction to the motherland. There is a need to renew our patriotic vows; our nationalism. We are a generation in search of a solution. With the WW2 generation gone, who will take there gallant place to stand their ground in defense of country and people. Perhaps it is the whisper of this call that we hear. 1945 is barely half a century ago and the wounds are barely healed.  Listening to the country’s Political and Social situation in college seminars and exposures, we see what grave injustice remains to plague our land.  We are an organization who believes there is hope in the chaos of our country.  Thus, as student leaders many years ago and as a professional today, we remains committed to our ideals;  we have the same aspirations as our Jesuit mentors. Atenista, we are children of the Jesuits committed to a vision, mission and passion. Passion as we are never content with the status quo, the known, the tried, the already existing. We are constantly driven to discover, redefine and reach out for more. Mission as we treat frontiers and boundaries as new challenges and opportunities; and never as obstacles or ends. Vision as we are convinced that God is at work in the depth of things even in the most painful realities.

In conclusion, we must recognize that knowledge is a lady to be pursued. Competence and skill will only be mastered by a sincere and discerning heart. Pursue you chosen profession and vocation with steadfast heart and diligent hands. Where ever you are your environment will merely manifest your attitude. Ultimately, competence is a choice you have to make. Seek it in books, seek it in the words of your teachers, in the classroom, in mentors, thru extra and co curricular organization, in the Eucharist, in the silence of your prayers -  seek it everywhere and you will discover the truth behind a verse in the Bible which says “ seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you”.  Truly I say  “ Contiuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential” Winston Churchill and “We tend to realize in the life what we persistently hold in the thought and vigorously struggle toward” – Dr. Marden