RESPONDING TO the invitation to find shared belonging, 2,640 freshmen and transferees attended the annual Orientation Seminar (OrSem) on August 3 and 4 to commence their Ateneo journey.
With the theme “Tara!” O-Chairs Deign Deicha Dato and Mary Leila Erin Faller emphasized how the gathering served as a stepping stone to welcome freshmen into the University.
“Tara! […] welcomes you not only [to] the academic aspect of the [University], but also [into] the lively and welcoming community […] here in Ateneo,” Faller expressed.
Bringing the two-day event to life, over 700 students volunteered for this year’s OrSem, which introduced refined systems anchored on three pillars described by the O-Chairs: intentional intimacy, operational excellence, and the transformational volunteer culture.
Reimagining OrSem
Guided by these pillars, Dato and Faller explained that the Organizing Committee replaced the staple O-Idol section, which used to feature performances from each school’s freshmen representatives, with a “freshie segment.” The new segment consisted of games during the day show program to broaden participation and reinforce intentional intimacy.
To foster stronger collaboration, Talks N’ Tours (TNT) Top 4 officer Raymond Jake Onal shared how the TNT and Security and Mobilization committees streamlined coordination through joint training sessions, improving the two committees’ culture and dynamics.
Meanwhile, Sponsorships Head Aldea Hao highlighted the committee’s operational shift toward securing “value-adding partnerships” in creating practical sponsorship packages for all participants.
Stepping together
Reflecting on OrSem’s goal of fostering belonging, Hao emphasized that “everyone belongs in [the Ateneo in] their own way,” a sentiment echoed by attendees, who described “Tara!” as an encouraging start to their journey.
For Shanaiyen Salazar (1 BS LEARN), the warmth began upon stepping into campus and continued throughout the day with the energy of the student volunteers. Julia Dela Cruz (1 AB COM) likewise described the experience as a “vibrant” introduction to University life.
Looking ahead to the rest of their college journey, Ramon Jurelle Perez (1 BS HS) expressed excitement in building meaningful connections with peers, while Denise Tolentino (1 BS HS) shared her eagerness in exploring student organizations and meeting new people.
To culminate the two-day event, the attendees gathered for the annual O-Night concert, which showcased performances by Sunkissed Lola, SHANNi, LEYO, and the Company of Ateneo Dancers.
