By Fonz Bautista

By Maxine Agno, Alexia Bangayan, and Noriko Yamamoto

On January 16 and January 23, Grade 11 students from the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) went on outbound, strand-wide educational trips, visiting Mt. Banahaw, Philippine Navy bases in Cavite, Villa Socorro Farm and Vonwelt Nature Farm, and Camp Tecson.

Students from the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strands conducted their field trips on January 16, while those in Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) and General Academics (GA) had theirs on January 23.

HUMSS Field Trip

The students arrived at Dolores, Sta. Lucia Complex at around 9 a.m., marking the start of their educational field trip.

Shortly after arrival, the group began their hike and made their first stop at Prisintahan, where students were given the opportunity to light candles and inscribe their names as a sacred ritual symbolizing devotion to their personal beliefs.

The students then proceeded to the viewing deck, where they left their bags and ate lunch; those who chose not to continue the hike stayed.

Those who decided to hike further continued on to Kalbaryo, the mountain’s peak, where a cross stood and candles were lit as a sign of respect and reflection.

After descending from the peak, the students finished their lunch before heading to the Lagnas River and Sta. Lucia Falls, where they were allowed to swim.

Ariane Tatunay from 11-Grande shared, “Swimming in the ilog is what I find the most memorable.”

“For the first time, I really felt Grande come together as a class because everyone had fun splashing each other regardless of what friend groups we were in,” she added.

STEM Field Trip

The students were first given an in-depth debriefing on the roles and responsibilities of the Navy SEALs.

During the visit, students were shown and taught about various military equipment displayed at the site.

The group then received a briefing on the different roles within the unit and were introduced to the helicopters and planes stationed outside.

Afterward, the personnel explained their work to the students with a focus on technology and systems used in naval operations.

Students were also shown a generator simulation system, where they observed the process of turning the generator on and learned how it functions.

The tour concluded with visits to a museum displaying firearms and another museum showcasing old navy attire and various navy-related equipment.

“I would say that the most memorable part was seeing the different technology, equipment, and daily routines that they have,” Antonio Verzosa from 11–San Vitores shared.

ABM Field Trip

The students first visited Villa Socorro Farm, where they were welcomed by Mr. Raymond Aaron — the current farm owner, a fourth-generation farmer, and an Ateneo alumnus.

Aaron shared his journey in agriculture and highlighted the farm’s vision of “world-class farming, nurturing farm-ilies,” which guided the growth of the business as a social enterprise.

He also introduced the farm’s various sectors involved in banana chip processing, emphasizing how each station contributes to the enterprise’s circular economy.

The ABM students then proceeded to Vonwelt Nature Farm, where recreational and water-based activities were conducted.

GA Field Trip

The students underwent a day of survival training at Camp Tecson, where they were welcomed by Team Leader Mon of the outbound education organization — a graduate professor from Ateneo — who delivered an inspiring talk about real-world resilience.

The students were then placed under the supervision of military personnel, marking the start of intensive training exercises.

They were taught tactical skills such as map reading by second lieutenants, physical endurance through the Assault Course, which involved wall mounts and rope climbs, and a survival fire-making demonstration to teach students how to utilize natural resources.

Under the guidance of Sir Pahunar at the Scout Ranger Memorial of the Fallen 44, students practiced military drills, including proper salutes and marching, to honor the soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty.

The students then headed to the pool, where they took turns in the kayak, testing their coordination and balance. 

The trip concluded with a free swimming session, allowing students to relax, bond, and celebrate their completion of the rigorous training. 

In addition, the field trips for the Grade 12 students are scheduled on February 13 for the STEM and ABM strands, and February 27 for the GA and HUMSS strands.