FOR THE first time, a Scholar’s Week aimed at binding one of the brightest groups in the Ateneo community was organized by Gabay, the scholars’ organization.

The event was entitled “Abot Tanaw,” the first of a two-part Scholars’ Week for the school year.

Overall Project Head Eduard Edwynn Capacio said that this was technically the first time that such an event happened.

“Initially, we held a Gabay Week as Scholar’s Week last year but then [we had a] mistake in the branding of the activity… [so it wasn’t perceived by] scholars as Scholars’ Week.”

It was held on August 24 to 27, with the second part scheduled on January 2011.

‘Make a stand’

Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto (AB Eco ’71) emphasized the value of dreaming big in his talk during the scholar’s forum.

Dubbed “ScholarSHIP”, the Scholars’ Forum was held at Faura AVR on August 24 with Meloto and Sanggunian President Rob Roque as the forum’s speakers.

“You must dream big. Why would you settle for less, anyway?” Meloto said in Filipino.

He encouraged Ateneans, especially scholars, to use their abilities in improving the lives of poor people and challenged the scholars to be courageous.

“Ateneans are smart but they don’t have the guts…you need to have the courage to make a stand,” added Meloto in Filipino.

Roque shared with his fellow scholars how they can incorporate spirituality in their pursuit of academic excellence.

“The last common notion about academic excellence is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam…Our A is for God’s glory…but it should be much deeper [than that] because our spirituality is also much deeper,” Roque said.

He also said that spirituality in academic excellence can be achieved through discipline, openness, integration, and courage.

Promoting academic excellence, talent

Aside from the forum, a quiz bee titled “Scholar Bee”, patterned after the shows Digital LG Quiz and The Singing Bee, was held primarily to showcase the academic excellence and the talent of the scholars. It was held at the MVP Roofdeck on August 25.

The quiz bee also sought to promoting Gabay “so that scholars will know Gabay more,” Project Head David Bryan Lozada said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The quiz show consisted of two rounds. The first was the elimination, where a related song was sung before contestants answered a multiple choice question by raising their cards.

Next was the Jeopardy! round, which was named after the game show. The top five contestants from the elimination battled it out for the top spot with the help of professionals who were former scholars.

In the end, Sector Based Cluster Head Daryl Dave De Vera won first prize, with the help of Corazon Lalu-Santos of the Filipino Department.

Exhibits and booths

Week-long exhibits and booths on the SEC B and C Foyers showcased notable alumni scholars and their achievements. These booths also featured the history of Gabay as an organization.

A Sponsor-A-Kid booth was put up so that donations for schoolchildren could be solicited.

Although freshman Christabel Corpus found the Scholars’ Week interesting and relevant to scholars, she said it could have been improved, particularly the strategic placements of exhibits around campus.

“There could have been better locations to make the exhibits and the event itself more visible…but despite those, it still was successful. The use of freebies to attract scholars to visit the exhibits was an effective tactic,” Corpus said.

One scholar community

As culmination of the activities of the week, a party entitled “Lipad: The Scholars’ Party” was held at the College Covered Courts on August 27.

The party also served as a gathering for current and alumni scholars.

According to Project Head Karlo Edesson Abril, the event was for scholars to enjoy and to be informed that their fellow scholars can help them if they’re having a hard time.

“We’d like to build a strong community…there are a thousand-plus scholars, but there is just one scholar community,” he said.