By Ry Dolor

By Rhianna Ramos

The Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community conducted the first of its annual emergency drills for Academic Year (AY) 2025-2026 on Wednesday, October 15, as part of the school’s disaster and preparedness efforts.

The drills included a shelter-in-place active shooter simulation, where the students locked and barricaded the classroom doors, turned off lights, and lowered blinds, while the vice presidents of each class acted as “invaders,” posing an external threat.

This was followed by the earthquake drill, during which students executed the “duck, cover, and hold” procedure, waited for the official signal, and then grabbed their go-bags before calmly evacuating through assigned exits.

For the fire drill, the ringing of the siren signaled an immediate evacuation as students formed two lines per section, proceeded to the open field near the Red Brick Road, and waited for headcount under the supervision of their moderators and class officers.

Members of Sandigan Kanlaon, the school’s Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction (DRRR) committee, assisted as ushers throughout the ASHS Main Building to maintain order and guide students during evacuation.

Sandigan Kanlaon Overall Head Zena Conel said that proper preparation helped ensure the drills ran smoothly. 

“Isa sa mga first steps na ginawa ng Kanlaon to ensure that the students and faculty were properly guided was the emergency plan video that we did,” she stated.

Conel added that the video shown during the Moderator’s Check-in Period (MIP) presented routes, exits, and safety protocols that guided students and faculty before the drills.

Furthermore, she noted that Sandigan Kanlaon, together with the Building Emergency Assistance Teams (BEATs), ensured that all drills were executed efficiently and that students remained calm throughout the process.

Reflecting on the importance of conducting emergency drills, Saarah Madamba from 12-Denn shared, “Experiencing the drill firsthand has made me realize what I can improve in my go-bag and how to better respond during an actual situation.”

She added that the drill allowed her to visualize possible situations that could occur during an actual emergency, helping her plan and respond more effectively. 

Attendance reports were then submitted to the Local Emergency Response Team (LUERT) for evaluation and documentation of the school’s overall emergency preparedness.

The drill also serves as preparation for students amid the recent earthquakes and fire incidents reported in various parts of the country.