By Ace Dizon and Glaiza Salanio

The Council of Student Organizations (CSO) of the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) kicked off with an opening ceremony last March 4, Monday, inviting ASHS students to participate in the CSO Month.

This year’s CSO month revolved on the theme of an exploration of wonderland aptly entitled “CSO Wonderland: Creating, Sustaining, and Outliving Wonders”.

To celebrate, the nine districts under CSO prepared a month-long schedule of activities, booths, competitions, and workshops aligned with the theme where all students are called to engage in.

The activities were aimed to highlight the talent, advocacy, and focus of every organization and district under CSO. Likewise, it also looked forward to providing an avenue for students to engage in the work done by the organizations, empowering them to be agents of change.

Through offering an immersive experience, the activities sought to demonstrate the unique cultures, traditions, and ideas of each district as an introduction to those who are interested in them.

The CSO also launched their own event, Ateneo Senior High’s Got Talent (ASHGT), focusing on giving students a platform where they can share their skills and talents.

The ASHGT was open for all students—with the final round taking place in the closing program of CSO Wonderland last March 19.

Creating Wonderland

CSO Communications Head Ryu Lindayag shared that the activities done throughout the month exemplified the diversity of the many different talents under the council. 

“CSO Wonderland aims to capture this chaos and showcase it to the rest of the world through the many projects the council and its organizations have created,” he stated.

Throughout the month, projects like the Analysis and Discourse District’s Freedom Wall, the Health and Environment District’s Ukay-Ukay, and the Performing Arts District’s several talent showcases were offered for everyone.

Lindayag explained that the CSO wanted to expose the ASHS with the unfamiliar and unusual in order to create, sustain, and grow the “wonders” of the community.

“As the ASHS is an ever changing community, these ‘wonders’ are what keeps our curiosity alive, especially in a time of heavy discernment as we figure out who we are as persons before we move on to the next chapter of our lives,” Lindayag concluded.

Farewell, Wonderland

After a month-long celebration, CSO Wonderland concluded on Tuesday, March 19, at the third floor of the Formation Learning Center (FLC).

The program started with performances by the finalists of ASHGT: The Semi Circles, N/A, Kaiser Cortina, and Santino Velasco.

In addition, Dulaang Sibol and the Broadway Theatre Troupe of Ateneo graced the stages with their performances. 

The district-based awards were given to the best bulletin board design (Sector-Based District), the most sustainable district (Health and Environment District), the most popular district (Performing Arts District), and the most creative district (Intercultural Relations District and Media and Creative Arts District).

More awards were given to the winners of the contests hosted by different organizations, as well as the ASHGT champion, N/A, and the runners-up.

Wonderland in Retrospect

As CSO month concluded, students recounted the favortie experiences and memories from the event.

Emiko Dimapilis from Faith Formation District’s Dulaang Sibol said that the highlight of the month-long celebration for her was the ASHGT. She explained that it was entertaining because students were able to showcase their skills, talents, and hobbies. 

“I always watched them—whether it was when they were performing at the FLC Cafeteria, online footage of their performances, or during the program itself–in awe every time,” she said.

“Kaiser Cortina, one of the ASHGT contestants, was one of those who I was specifically amazed by. Covering very meaningful and impactful songs, he also made them his own,” she added.

Dimapilis further shared that she also enjoyed the thrift stores that had a lot of eye-catching pieces. 

“I personally purchased clothes and toys from the stores, and they were pretty worth it,” she stated.

Creating, Sustaining, and Outliving Wonders

Even if there were some difficulties for this big event due to the many organizations and districts under the council, the CSO still succeeded in achieving its objective.

“Now that we are closing the event, I think the projects of the districts have been successful. Although it was hard and challenging, it’s really nice,” Hazel Medina, the CSO Vice President, said.

Through this event, the CSO hoped to foster and exhibit the talents and skills of the ASHS students for their personal growth.

“Just like what the message of CSO Wonderland was: creating, sustaining, and outliving wonders, from the name itself, we want you, each and every one of you, to showcase your talents, kahit may takot, kahit mayroong alinlangan na baka hindi natin ma-give out yung ating potential. ASHS would also be a place for you, a safe space for you to grow and to enrich and hone your talents, especially in the organizations that we have in CSO,” she added.