FROM A balloon art campaign to a talk on the global financial crisis, the School of Social Sciences (SOSS) Week aimed to show it was for everyone—or, as it said, “EveryJuan.”
Following that theme, SOSS Week on February 3 to 6 launched a line of activities for all courses in SOSS, and even those not in it.
“This year, we tried to focus on how each of the courses of the School of Social Sciences are different and yet at the same time they are the same,” said Katrina Morales (III BS Psy), SOSS Secretary-Treasurer and one of the project’s organizers.
SOSS pride
Morales said that SOSS Week organizers this year cooperated with the different SOSS orgs and departments.
“I really wanted this to be the best SOSS week that I have ever had…We started with new things this year like having the organizations and the Dean’s office in the event planning and all,” she said.
SOSS Week had a line-up of 25 events, ranging from contests to talks and exhibits.
One was a Fil-Am War talk given by History Professor Ambeth Ocampo on February 4.
Participant Jean Elaine Garcia (II BS ECE) said the talk taught her to be critical of written historical texts because of biases present with the author.
“He made it clear that when you [speak in] detail about history, it’s very subject to interpretation depending on the values you have, your nationality, the way you side… [with] people and events,” added another participant and Ocampo’s student Eric Paul Ramos (II BS HSc). “The most important part is to be honest when proclaiming the history… [of] other people.”
Recreation
Another activity was “Pinoy Balloon Art,” held February 4 at the Zen Garden. This event modified a conventional spelling bee, and replaced the buzzer with a balloon containing paint.
SOSS orgs, divided into four clusters, participated in the contest.
Cluster A was composed of the Management Economics Organization (MeCo) and the Ateneo Economics Association (AEA); Cluster B, The Assembly and Psyche; Cluster C, the Association of Communication Majors and the Ateneo European Society; and Cluster D, Celadon and the Development Society. Cluster A won the contest.
“[The event was] interesting…nilagyan nila ng twist yung quiz game na yung buzzer magpo-pop ng balloon (they put a twist to the quiz game, where the buzzer will pop a balloon,)” said participant Jonas Augustus Gonzales (III AB MEco).
“It was fun and mentally challenging because it was a combination of [the] physical and intellectual capacity of a person,” another participant, Nikkolo Gaspe (IV AB PoS), said.
Programs Committee member Janlee Dungca (III AB Psy) said that the event was fun, and that people enjoyed the game.
“It’s kind of sad because very few came. Nevertheless, the important thing is that at the end of the day, we all had fun,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.
More of everyone
Morales said that despite minimal participation and minor setbacks, she was happy with most of the events.
“I believe that they were well-executed…it’s just that since the concept of this whole event was new…so coordination with the orgs and all have to be improved,” Morales said.
“I would have wanted that all the students of the LS [Loyola Schools] participated in all our activities and talks, rather than just seeing us in the Zen Garden… passing by us,” she said.
SOSS Week ended with a culminating night on February 6 held at Topshelf, Fullybooked in Bonifacio High Street. Themed “DiscoJuan,” it centered on Filipino pride that was also highlighted in other days of SOSS Week.
The culminating night program featured a fashion show showcasing modernized versions of traditional Filipino clothes. Winners for some SOSS activities were also awarded.
