FORMER MANAGEMENT engineering students jogged around a very different Ateneo from what they knew up to forty years before.
On July 26, alumni of the Management Engineering (ME) course—which celebrates its 40th year this year—participated in a fun run dubbed “Run with ME.” The run was part of the events leading to the ME Grand Alumni Homecoming on August 11.
Aside from a providing a venue for alumni to reconnect with each other, the reunion also made it possible for forty scholars to study ME in the Ateneo in the following years.
40 years back
The race was an opportunity for the alumni to see the changes in the campus, said organizer Emman Jalandoni (BS ME ’90).
“Back in the day, there was so much space—getting from the Blue Eagle Gym to Faura Hall used to be quite a task since we had to basically follow the main road,” he said. “Now [the School of Management building] connected the two.”
There were three distinct competitive races: a 10 km open race and a 5 km team race (with men and women divisions each), and a 3 km race. All categories were open to both serious and recreational runners.
The races began in front of the Ateneo Blue Eagle gym, coursed through the Loyola Schools, passed the Church of the Gesu, the Ateneo High School, and the Bellarmine field, and ended back at the gym.
The Ateneo Track Team, led by their coach, facilitated the run.
Scholarships and bonus points
Run with ME was initially intended for alumni; however, some joined it as a means for exercise and bonding.
Apart from the bonus points that his professor promised, sophomore Albert Ang joined the run because the registration fees went to the scholarship fund.
“It’s for a greater cause. I think in return, the happiness in having completed the race is a big repayment for others. We were being men for others, little by little,” Ang said.
Jalandoni added, “Whatever we do, we do it to give back to the school. Thus, all proceeds will contribute in our efforts to raise 40 ME scholarships.”
Non-Ateneans Gaye and Belle Layda, who are running fans, joined because they read about it on the Internet.
“We haven’t even thought of winning. We just want to finish the race together,” they said.
Abbey Gross, 12, together with her friends, were asked by their parents to join because jogging was a family activity for them.
“[Our parents] race pretty much every single Sunday,” Gross said.
Sophomore Aaron Marasigan was one of the eight students from his block who joined because their professor encouraged them. They will get an additional 5 points if they join. “But if we beat our teacher’s time, we get 10,” he said.
Year-long event
Jalandoni said there were other events lined up for the rest of the year, such as Bowl for Fame, a golf tournament, and bingo, for the ME@40 Celebration.
“After the turn-out today which exceeded our expectations, perhaps this can become an annual event, but I cannot plan that far ahead into what our 2010 plans will be. But definitely, the turnout calls for a repeat,” said Jalandoni.
