By Zach Cruz

This is it, pancit!

With school now over and us welcomed into the embrace of the summer break once more, we are now presented with a variety of options to celebrate our sweetly-earned vacation. When we only had a month to go before stepping out of the halls of the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS), we knew that we would surely have to face an inevitable pile of schoolwork, from capstone projects to long tests. But before all that ruckus, there of course had to be a grace period to mentally, physically, and emotionally prepare us for hell month, which arrived in the form of the second semester mid-semester break!

Naturally, each of us had different strategies to catch up on rest (or not, if you were still too busy) during the week-long break. Like last time, some may have traveled elsewhere to get a breather from the tense and busy life in Quezon City, be it to their hometowns or a faraway land, while some may have opted to take advantage of this period with their families to commemorate the season of Lent, which has always been a significant tradition in Philippine culture. However, for those who just love to stress themselves out, some ended up cramming their finals or midterm projects during the break—no judgment, really. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at how we spent our second mid-semester breaks!

Igniting Spirituality and Faith

Our country is known for its devotion to religion, especially noting that the Philippines is 78.8 percent Catholic. Most of us aligning to Christianity revere God, which manifests in how we live out different teachings, values, and traditions in our everyday lives. Apart from how we celebrate Christmas a bit differently from others in terms of its timing, we also have a few unique customs up our sleeves when it comes to the Lenten Season—especially the Holy Week. With the mid-semester break coinciding with this special occasion, many of us, together with our families, spent the Holy Week in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

From spending time with our families outdoors by visiting different churches, abstaining from certain food, and practicing compassion and empathy towards others, most of us kept the flame of faith burning and our traditions preserved during the Holy Week. Not to mention our very unique practices such as the penitensya and the pabasa, which manifest in prominent sights and sounds as we go out into the streets. Altogether, as we observe these long-standing traditions and devotions, we also keep our identity and culture as Filipinos burning and shining bright.

“And When I’m Back in _____, I Feel It…”

Luckily, the break provided ample time for some to return to their hometowns and savor everything these places have to offer: from home-cooked meals prepared by the people they spent most of their lives with, spaces and rooms that were once their refuge, and familiar faces who they used to frolic with every day.

For many, their hometowns still carry their hearts and souls with them, even if they are staying in the bustling Metro Manila area. It can be quite disheartening for one to realize that at this point in their lives, they are now far away from their homes—separated from important parts of who they used to be. So, while Ateneo is indeed the place where we now belong, it still feels a whole lot different and foreign for those who came from afar; coming home, seeing the places they used to go and the people they used to see, would definitely heal their homesick hearts.

Sights and Sceneries

Of course, no break is complete without people taking advantage of it through adventure! Some took the perfect opportunity to go out and about just before waging a war with stress and academics, exploring different sides of the country and even the world (think of it as a preparation stage of some sorts). 

Sights of popular countries such as Japan or Korea were probably all over your social media feed or your friends’ stories and posts. On the contrary, a number of students also took a look at our domestic destinations! From the cool and serene city of Baguio, to Palawan or La Union, where you could bask in the summer heat in front of crashing waves and blue waters. You’d most likely know if people went to such places once you see a tan line…

The Grind Goes On

Devastatingly, as we neared the end of the school year, it was a given that we had a whole pile of workload and backlogs for school. This is a natural phenomenon across every school in the world; you’d probably hear your classmates and friends say “tambak” or “hell week” as they take note of everything you’d have to do as part of your subjects’ final requirements, and most likely you have said these phrases too! Hence, you’re really not to blame if you spent your break catching up on requirements or even willingly doing new ones to lessen your workload as school returns—it’s a matter of strategy after all, right?

As we geared up to finish the school year strong, our schedules and to-do lists were cluttered with a variety of projects and assignments, and with every subject most likely trying to fit all these within a month! From oral defenses, research manuscripts and presentations, major assessments, filmings, quizzes, long tests, and the National Achievement Test, many hurdles were ahead, and maybe cramming during the break eased the load of work we were anticipating. In the end, it’s really up to us how we decide to manage our time regarding our schoolwork.

Saan Aabot?

Finally, as we entered the halls of the ASHS once again, we were reminded of the little time we had remaining—especially for the seniors who would be saying goodbye to the place they called home for two years. In spite of the huge workload had waited for us and the blazing summer heat, it is with hope that we relished in these last few weeks to really take in everything that the ASHS has to offer: from its terracotta and white exterior, the spacious blue desks in our classrooms, the cafeteria food which had recently upgraded with a variety of stalls, the statue of St. Ignatius in the middle of the building, and to the tall, hard-to-climb Formation and Learning Center (FLC). However, we should also not forget the people who we met amidst our journeys—the friends we made along the way, our classmates whom we shared our struggles and laughter with in the classroom, the teachers who never failed to provide us not only with knowledge but also wisdom in tackling life, and the administrators.

As we return to school after every vacation, let us look back not only on the memories during our breaks, but also on the experiences we have encountered during our stay in the ASHS. It may surely not have been a smooth ride as life is not that kind and forgiving, but these experiences were definitely one for the books. For the juniors who would be returning back for senior year, it is not farewell just yet, but rather a calling to make better memories and strive for further excellence. However, for our seniors, or for those who would be bidding goodbye to the corridors of the place where they belong—the different experiences, learnings, and insights they have gathered during their stay will now slowly turn into distant—but certainly not forgotten—memories.

Nevertheless, let’s finish senior high strong!  Summer break is now upon us, and nothing is stopping us from making fun and lasting memories together with those we cherished along the halls of the ASHS. This break will be a longer one, which means we have more time to do crazier, wilder, and more fun things. What activities would you soon be doing, and what things or places would you discover? Guess it’s time to find out!