News
The GUIDON December 2014-January 2015
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Atenean hailed as Most Outstanding José Rizal Model Student By Briane B. Dela Peña and Macneil A. Mendoza M A N A G E M E N T ENGINEERING senior Ryan Yu was recognized as Most Outstanding out of the 10 Outstanding José Rizal Model Student of the Philippines finalists during a ceremony at the Knights of Rizal International Headquarters, Manila on December 30, 2014. Yu was selected as Most Outstanding by the Order of the Knights of Rizal, a civil and patriotic organization, for embodying national hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s achievements, leadership and nationalism through academic excellence, extracurricular activities and community involvement. During the awarding, Yu delivered a speech titled, “The Call of Rizal,” in which he spoke about the achievements of the national hero and emphasized how the youth today can live up to Rizal’s values in their own lives. In an interview with The GUIDON, Yu said, “I received the award not only for myself but rather for the whole Ateneo community, in the hope that we will all continue our commitment to excellence and service by following the example of Rizal.” Yu was lauded with two medals—one for being a finalist to the Top 10 and the other for making it as an Outstanding model student—a trophy and a P10,000 cash prize. During the ceremony, Yu also took part in the reenactment of Rizal’s march to Bagumbayan in commemoration of the hero’s 118th anniversary of martyrdom. Assistant to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (ADSA) for Services Cholo Mallillin said that Yu is one of the most dedicated and most focused students he has ever known.
Yu has served as the Sanggunian’s vice president from school year 2013-2014 to the present and involves himself in school organizations such as the Ateneo Management Engineering Association and the Ateneo Christian Life Community. He currently has a cumulative Quality Point Index of 3.98 and is running for summa cum laude. “To be able to balance a summa cum laude-level type of academic standing with a full plate of responsibilities as [Sanggunian] vice president, while still retaining a very approachable and passionate engagement with the students, is very note-worthy indeed [for] a student,” said Mallillin. The Office of the ADSA assisted in the selection process of nominees from each of the Loyola Schools. Th is yea r, t he Most Outstanding awardee was determined from the Top 10 that were directly selected from a nationwide pool of nominees of university and college seniors in the country. This is contrary to previous years’ selection process, wherein nominees were trimmed down to 20 national finalists until the Top 10 Outstanding students were determined. Another Atenean, Gabriel Asuncion from Ateneo de Naga University, was also recognized as an Outstanding José Rizal Model Student of the Philippines. Towards nation-building
“Each of us had a very interesting story to tell, but despite the differences in the work that each of us did, we shared the desire to move the Philippines forward,” Yu said, referring to his fellow awardees. In his speech, he said, “[Rizal] might have been the spark, but it was the fire in our people’s hearts that burned through the binding ropes of oppression. Just
as Rizal did not achieve change on his own, we are also being called to work with one another so that together, we may be the change that this country needs.” Yu said that being a model student does not mean that nation-building is a challenge he has to face alone. Instead, it is a challenge that requires the collaborative effort of all passionate Filipinos in the midst of the problems plaguing the country. “[I’ve realized that] Ateneans are not alone, for we are part of an even greater network of schools nationwide whose students continue to fight poverty, improve the state of Philippine education, eradicate corruption and so forth,” he said. Recognizing these difficulties, Yu encourages other Ateneans, as future leaders, to remain undaunted. “This achievement should be viewed as an avenue to motivate and inspire all Ateneans to continue living out the values of Rizal in their own lives,” said Yu. In his speech, Yu also urged the youth to imitate Rizal’s example by ensuring that at the end of their career paths is still the willingness to help the nation. “Rizal has shown us that no matter what our field of interest may be, each and every one of us can contribute to nation-building.” Living up to Rizal’s values
Yu shared how the life of Rizal and the stories of his fellow awardees motivate him as an Atenean student-leader. Yu emphasized the importance of living up to the values exhibited by Rizal by the current generation. He said that the most elusive of Rizal’s values in modern society is a passion for learning. For Yu, learning should not end in the classroom because it only gives a sense of settling with one’s limited knowledge of the world.
NATION-BULIDERS. Ryan Yu said that nation-building is not something he face alone; it is a challenge that requires collaborative effort. PHOTO BY ARIELLE A. ACOSTA
“I believe that the youth of today are already beginning to have a healthy sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo, and if they channel this into a desire to find solutions to the problems of our country through an insatiable thirst for knowledge, then there will be much hope for the future of our country,” said Yu. Impact to Atenean community
For Mallillin, Ateneo is an ideal ground to produce model students because of the quality of education and holistic formation it offers, and its very intentional push for students to be servant leaders while engaging
in socio-civic action and efforts for national development. “Given that Rizal is an Ateneo alumnus and that his struggles for freedom from tyranny was attained through the elevation of learning, mastery of his discipline and a strong moral core, I believe these are qualities not limited to persons like Rizal, but of every Atenean today,” he said. Moreover, last year’s Most Outstanding José Rizal Model Student of the Philippines, Billie Dumaliang (BS MGT-H ‘14), hopes that Yu’s achievement will inspire Ateneans to make things happen and that the award will be a reminder for the community
to realize its “inner hero,” and use its skills and talents for the welfare of the country. She said that being a hero does not require joining the government or affiliating with various organizations; rather, it is remembering the country in each one’s dreams and aspirations and fulfilling them. For Yu, Rizal’s life is not an unattainable and abstract ideal, but a model, which everyone is enjoined to follow in their own capacities. “Let us all work together to transform this great nation that Rizal sacrificed his life for,” said Yu.
Cardinal Tagle reaffirms “option for the poor” for Ateneans By Liam C. Lu
FOR THE PERIPHERIES. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on audience members not to give up on the option for the poor. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIGGY RIVERA/ACIL
MANILA ARCHBISHOP Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called Ateneans to become more aware of issues regarding poverty and asked them to continue to uphold the Catholic teaching on the “option for the poor” during Youcat Night II. The forum was organized by the Ateneo Catechetical Instruction League (ACIL) in partnership with the Theology Department and was held on January 5 at the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall auditorium. The Youcat, which was named after the 2011 publication Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, aimed to “[help] the youth have a better understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church,” said ACIL member Danielle Trance. Tagle answered questions f rom audience members throughout the forum about matters concerning the Catholic faith, which focused mostly on the Church’s stand on issues of wealth and social justice. Senior Romar Chuca raised the issue of conspicuous consumption in society, citing the recent wedding of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera as an example of ostentation and extravagance amid poverty in society. “[The wedding was] too extravagant, and knowing that
they’re a public couple, [they are recognized by] millions of people who are facing poverty,” said Chuca. Tagle responded by saying that issues like these reveal a disparity with the faith professed by the Church and the faith practiced in daily living, and called Ateneans to become sensitive to the situation of the poor. He said, “Even with the failures in living out the faith, we should not abandon [it]. We need to grow in [becoming more conscious to situation of the poor]. Don’t give up on the option for the poor.” He also quoted the 1991 Second Plenary Conference of the Philippines, stating that “one of the maladies of our time is the separation between faith that is professed and ordinary life.” However, Tagle reiterated that there are “human means” of helping the poor that cannot be postponed and enjoined Ateneans in helping “enable [the poor] to instill a sense of dignity and become active agents of their life and society.” Ateneans respond
In an interview with The GU I DON, Youcat Head Organizer Miguel Saavedra reiterated Tagle’s positions by saying that there are shortcomings in the practice of the Catholic faith. “Several of us do say our prayers and attend masses, but
not at all practice what they preach or what is preached to them,” he said. According to Saavedra, the “option for the poor” is a call to spread the message of salvation to those who are in need and to help victims of poverty, corruption, and injustice. In a separate interview, ACIL President Erika Ignacio urged Ateneans to “[become] aware of the lack [of living out the faith] in their lives and learn to live out the faith instead of just practicing the traditions.” Saavedra added that the Ateneo has always been one of the frontrunners “in the war against injustice and poverty” and called Ateneans to continue their efforts to stop and prevent social injustice. Ig nacio explained that Ateneans are equipped with the proper education in applying the “option for the poor.” However, Ignacio maintained that the fortunate should not force themselves on the materialistically poor. She said that although the poor may need help from others, they are still capable of thinking and speaking for themselves. Saavedra sa id that “[Ateneans] can’t expect to help the poor and the needy if we cannot even understand what they are going through.” “The best we can do to respond is to learn and to better relate to the people in need, so
we can learn the best way to help them,” he continued. The role of faith
In the forum, Tagle also addressed the role of faith in counseling and advising national policy in the state. He maintained that the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines provided for the ability for religious expression in the political affairs of the country. “The expression ‘separation of Church and State’ is quite precise. A burden is placed on the government to respect all religions, and not to stop people from exercising their religions,” he said. He said that people were guaranteed the ability to express their faith. “If we say that we believe this [article of faith], it is not politicking. It is a right guaranteed by the separation of Church and State.” He explained that faith is a necessary tool in shaping and directing society. “Sometimes, faith convictions dictate that we express our opposition to some aspects of social and political life,” Tagle said. “Religions operate beyond politics…t here a re some principles that [reserve a place] that could be used as a critique [of society],” he added.