FROM “SOMONOPOLY” to “InSOMnia,” students from the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) enjoyed a week of games, camaraderie, and talent outside the classroom in SOM Week from September 8 to 15.
SOM Week, through its various activities, showcased the various skills of the orgs under the Business Cluster and SOM, said Ronaldo Roque (IV BS CTM), Business Cluster head.
Opening with a bang
SOM Week officially opened on September 8 at the SOM garden. Orgs in the business cluster gathered to support their “Mr. and Ms. SOM” representatives, who paraded in costumes for the event’s opening ceremony.
The opening started with a musical presentation from the Blue Babble Brass Band and the costume parade. The official scoreboard for the week’s activities, which was sponsored by the Applied Math and Finance sophomore batch, was also presented.
Passion and participation
Roque said this year’s SOM Week was different because the support of the organizations for their participants was greater compared to the past years.
“I saw the active support of the organizations. Their support really came a long way even to the SOM night party, and of course, the closing ceremony,” added Roque.
Ma. Carisse Eusebio (III AB Psy) said SOM week made it a point to involve most of the orgs. “I’m excited and I really enjoyed it,” she said.
Shanonraj Khadka (III BS MAC), the Management with Applied Chemistry Association’s representative for Mr. and Ms. SOM, said that the events lined up for SOM Week fostered interaction between organizations.
SOM beyond the classroom
Leslie Kate Tseng (III BS Psy), who participated in SOMonopoly, said that SOM Week is an integration of classroom lectures and fun activities. SOMonopoly is similar to the board game “Monopoly,” except that SOMonopoly is more customized.
Familiar SOM elements, which includes the Ching Tan room, the dean’s office, and even Dean Rudy Ang’s coffee are integrated with the board game, said Tseng.
In SOMonopoly, students enhance their skills in leadership, trade, and strategy, she added. “It’s a very good game to really see what management people are all about.”
Aside from enhancing skills, SOMonopoly also promoted camaraderie between participants. “It’s bigger and more fun because you get to watch people play around it.”
InSOMnia
SOM Week also included a cultivation night, dubbed InSOMnia, held at the BMW Autohouse in Libis, Quezon City on September 12.
The evening aimed to provide students with a venue to party with friends and take a break from school work. Besides students, professors were also present in InSOMnia as judges for the Mr. and Ms. SOM pageant.
The program included a fashion show of Unschooled Incorporated clothing apparel, and several games from sponsors such as Get Blued, Motolite, and Arrow.
Khadka said that InSOMnia, with its fashion shows, good drinks, and food, is a good party.
“Once in a while, it’s nice to let our hair down,” said Ang.
SOM Week officially ended on September 15 with the closing ceremonies held at the MVP Roofdeck. The closing ceremonies included the talent show of the Mr. and Ms. SOM candidates.
The Ateneo Association of Communications Technology Management bagged first place in SOM Week and Mr. and Ms. SOM. The Ateneo Lex placed second on SOM Week, while the Ateneo AIESEC placed third.
