By Ana Rufa Padua

The Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community came together for the turnover and blessing of St. Luigi Gonzaga Sundial—the Batch 2020’s Legacy Project, and the blessing of the ASHS Courtyard, morning of November 5, Friday.

Fr. Bong Dahunan, SJ started the ceremony with the Blessing of the Courtyard, followed by the speech of Mr. Rene Santos—Chairperson of the Grade 12 Parents’ Council of Batch 2020. 

“The Ateneo Senior High School Batch of 2020 along with the PUSH Council takes pride in transforming the center of the SHS building into a functional and delightful courtyard of St.Aloysius Gonzaga and St.Ignatius of Loyola as places of refuge and prayer for the whole community,” Santos said. 

He talked about how fitting St. Aloysius Gonzaga was for the Legacy Project, mentioning how he volunteered to care for the patients in Rome when a plague broke out in 1591 and ended up contracting the disease himself, eventually succumbing to the plague at the age of 23. 

Likewise, the former PUSH Council Chairperson mentioned how the sundial represented time, a commodity St. Aloysius quickly ran out of, but “it was time not wasted, as he dedicated his life in service of the sick and the dying.” 

Santos also delivered a dedication message from Fr. Bert Ampil, who was originally tasked to do the closing, but was unable to attend the turnover ceremony as he was advised to rest in the Jesuit’s Residence by the doctors.

“Like Aloysius, we do not know whether God will give us a short life or a long one, a hard life or an easy one, a life soured by disappointments, or sweetened by success. We do not know how we will die or when we shall pass from this life unto the next, that future is merciful even from our eyes. But what we know and have learned from our years at the Ateneo and which has become a cornerstone of our belief, is that we can make of that unknown future not simply [as] an uncertain end, but a beginning of a new life,” read Fr. Bert’s message. 

The speech was followed by a short video presentation of the Batch Legacy that was prepared by Batch 2020 and headed by Kara Angan—Assembly of Class Officers Vice President of Batch 2019-2020.

Sir Noel Miranda, principal of the ASHS, along with the rest of the A-Team, then formally accepted the plaque on behalf of the school community, accompanied by Sir Miranda’s acceptance speech.

Matthew Stephen Tiongco, ASHS Sanggunian President of Batch 2019-2020 reminisced memories with his batch during their two-year stay in the ASHS, mentioning events such as the Buwan ng Wika, Katipunan Fund Drive, Sportsfest, Fair, and Prom during his testimonial.

“Personally, ASHS has always made me feel safe, and it has also given me comfort just by being in the building. I just really feel happy just by simply being here. Moreover, though people in the community come from different walks of life, ASHS showed us that we don’t need to change ourselves just to be included, that we can always be ourselves and eventually we will find that there will be people there to support and accept us always,” Tiongco answered to the question about what makes ASHS their home.

Tiongco concluded his speech by chanting the battlecry of the senior high, “Always remember that we are Senior High—Senior High Strong!”

The former Sanggunian President was also accompanied by Kara Angan, Kimi Pantanosas—GA Chairperson of Batch 2020, and Andre Parafina—HUMSS Chairperson of Batch 2020.

“As we go through senior high, the school leaves its own impact on us and the persons that we’ve become, so as we graduate, I think it’s important that we try to give back to the school and leave an impact in whatever way we can,” Pantanosas said when asked about the purpose of legacy projects. 

Angan added that the statue of St. Ignatius and the sundial of St. Aloysius were only two of the legacy projects, and that there were also others that came in forms of services such as the benches from Batch 2019 while other batches pledged to give their legacy projects to the new building. 

When asked about what they miss about ASHS, the group collectively answered, “the community.” They mentioned the ‘hug culture’ of the senior high school and the ‘org culture,’ when members of different organizations would gather in specific areas to practice for their performances or organization activities. 

Fr. Jonjee Sumpaico, SJ— Vice President of Basic Education gave the closing remarks, while Sir Noel Miranda delivered the words of acknowledgment.

The turnover and blessing ceremony of the Batch 2020 Legacy Project was concluded with the community singing the Song for Mary, led by Matthew Tiongco.

The sundial of St. Aloysius was designed by TOYM, LEE, and KAHLO IMAO, while the landscaping was led by Architect Michelle Panganiban.

Photo Source: Justin Delas Armas, Alexandria Buenaventura, and Nicole Agpalza of Hi-Lites.