ENTITLED LIYAB, this year’s Freshman Orientation Seminar (OrSem) embraced the concept of the Olympic Torch as it passed the flame to 2,248 freshmen, the biggest batch yet to come to the Loyola Schools, according to OrSem Head Aldo Tong (IV BSM AMF).
“It’s an OrSem marked with change,” said Tong.
Compared to previous years, the Sanggunian ng Mag-aaral and the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) had more participation in the OrSem, held June 5 to 7.
Igniting passion
Tong said the theme, Liyab, symbolizes passing on the Atenean flame, which includes its history, culture and traditions, to the incoming freshmen.
Justin Charles See (IV BS Ps MSE), Talk and Tours (TnT) head, said that the theme also shows the presence of excellence in incoming freshmen.
“Olympics is gathering together [for] excellence because you cannot be part of the Olympics if you are not competent,” See said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“We want to show them that despite coming from different high schools, they’re all here and it just proves that they’re all competent.”
Sanggu spearheads school nights
The Sanggu participated more actively in the preparations for the OrSem through the four school nights, while the COA took care of the video on orgs.
Over-all deputy of Liyab Jan Katrina Ruiz (IV BS CTM) said that the Sanggu and COA were more involved in planning the OrSem program and gave contacts for sponsors.
During the school talks, Sanggu President Omi Castañar (V AB DS) also discussed to the freshmen their academic rights.
In the past, only SOM orgganized a school night. Tong said the school board and administration welcomed the idea of holding a school night for all four schools this year.
School Board participation
“With two months of preparation, we were able to come up with SOSE Night, a first-ever in history,” SOSE Chair Kristine Claire Ongcangco (IV BS MIS) said in a mix of English and Filipino. “We felt that freshies deserve a special welcoming for them to know about their departments that are within SOSE.”
SOSS Chair Cheenee Otarra (IV AB DS) said that the SOSS School Board thought of incorporating SOSS Night with OrSem to be able to invite more SOSS freshmen. One of the SOSS’s goals for the school year is to form students into front-liners in nation building.
SOH Chair Jose Antonio Miguel Perez (IV AB IS) said that they prepared a SOH Night because they wanted to make the freshman feel that the School of Humanities is one family, and to show them what the School of Humanities has to offer.
What they think
Beatrice Carmina Mediatrix Ocampo (I AB Chns) said, “I’m getting the picture of how… passionate everyone is about being an Atenean.”
Ocampo added that she got to see how everyone loves the school, especially when the Blue Babble Battalion presented.
Patricia Marie Velez (I AB Comm) said the people in charge of the OrSem did a great job. “It was pretty exhausting, but then I got to meet lots of new people and bond with my blockmates so it was all worth it,” she said.
