Puli! Sulbod! Gibsaw!
Ateneo Alumni Go Home, Meet Up and Get Active: The 59th Ateneo de Naga Grand Alumni Homecoming (December 30, 2005)

The Ateneo celebrated its traditional annual Grand Alumni Homecoming last December 30, 2005 at the Xavier Hall of the Ateneo de Naga University. With the theme: “ Puli (to go home), Sulbod (to meet), Gibsaw (to be active)” , the 59th Grand Alumni Homecoming was hosted and organized by the Silver Jubilarians High School Batch 1980 and the Ateneo de Naga University Alumni Association. Co-hosts were College Batch 1980 as well as the Golden Jubilarians, High School Batch 1955.

Any Ateneo celebration will not be complete and as meaningful without starting it off with a Eucharistic celebration. A con-celebrated mass officiated by dear Jesuit priests, Fr. Ernesto Carretero, Fr. Danilo Isidro and the main celebrant, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, was held at the Christ the King Church of the Ateneo de Naga University. The Eucharistic celebration was even made more memorable as members of the HS batch '55 and '80 together with other alumni, their families and friends were present. The members of the HS'80 also served as the choir during the mass. Fr. Joel's homily was very timely indeed for the alumni homecoming as it was about companionship and friendship best exemplified by the companionship and friendship shared by St. Francis Xavier, Bl. Peter Faber and St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose Jubilees are celebrated in the year 2005 (the 500th birth anniversaries of St. Francis and Bl. Peter and the 450th death anniversary of St. Ignatius). Out of this friendship, which was also in an academic setting, came the Society of Jesus.

After the Mass, registration by batches started and a simple brunch of native “puto”, pancit bihon and coffee were shared at the Xavier Hall. A short but energetic welcome remarks by the 2005 ADNUAA President, Mr. Nestor O. Monte, Jr., HS '80, signaled the start of the whole day string of activities prepared for the homecoming. Simultaneously undertaken activities such as a motorcade around Naga City as well as alumni fellowship and games took place thereafter. A one hour lunch break then followed where some opted to go home and freshen up for the very much anticipated program proper in the afternoon.

As expected, people slowly came pouring in after the lunch break despite the drizzle and sporadic downpour of rain. By three in the afternoon, the Xavier Hall was almost full of cheerful, excited and literally “noisy” alumni/ae. It only quieted down a bit when the ADNUAA Business Meeting was started. Mr. Monte gave the “President's Report”, where he proudly presented to all the alumni/ae present, all the significant works, projects and activities that the ADNUAA Board has achieved for the whole year of their term. Afterwards, the election of the new set of ADNUAA Board of Directors took place. Mr. Rosendo “Ringo” Badilla, HS'81, was elected as the new ADNUAA President. Fourteen others were elected as ADNUAA Board of Directors - eight from this year's high school silver jubilarian batch ‘81, two from the high school batch ‘82, three are alumnae representing the college graduates and one from HS'93 representing the younger batches.

The registration volunteers were kept fairly busy as more and more alumni/ae kept coming in. By seven in the evening, Xavier Hall was already packed with alumni/ae from different batches, most of whom were wearing their own batch shirts. Some even brought their batch banners. Cocktails were served and the live band finally put the sound system to good use. Mr. Rustico “King” Pasilaban ( HS'66 and also the outgoing ADNUAA VP) served as the night's official emcee. The evening affair was then officially opened with everyone standing up for the opening prayer led by Mr. Antonio “Tony” A. Amparado, HS'56. The Philippine National Anthem was then sang, led by Mr. Digs Villabroza. Next, the outgoing ADNUAA President, Mr. Monte, gave a short welcome address . Then Father Joel E. Tabora, S.J., gave a short inspirational talk. He welcomed all the alumni/ae present with good news about the Ateneo and its achievements and developments as a University through the years. Bringing with him the souvenir program, Fr. Tabora talked about its contents as being a “treasure trove of memories'', quoting items that defined the times of the High School batch 80 - the haircuts, the disco dances. Fr. Tabora also brought up a historical note mentioned in the prologue to the souvenir program - it was in 1980 that the Ateneo adopted its current seal, adding the symbols for Nobility and Generosity to the old seal.

Afterwards, as every homecoming would not be complete without this, everyone proudly sang the Ateneo Marching song. Of course, as every Atenean's rendition of this song would go, the last line “Ateneo, for God and you!” was proudly and joyously shouted! At that moment, every Atenean present cannot but feel that they were really back home once more to their beloved Ateneo.

After the very moving marching song, the traditional presentation of batches then commenced. Mr. Pasilaban called out one by one the different high school and college batches present. The different batches gave joyous shouts and loud applause as their high school or college batches were called. Although some batches were considerably fewer than the rest, representatives from the different batches from the 50's up to the 2000's were present. The announcement and oath taking of the newly elected ADNUAA officers then followed. Father Joel formally inducted and officiated the oath taking of the new set of ADNUAA officers. Special commemorative pins were then presented to the newly elected board.

A different twist of events then followed as for the very first time in the history of Ateneo Homecomings, two very special awards were presented. The first one was the acknowledgment of the all the past ADNUAA Presidents since 1948. They were awarded with special commemorative pins in recognition of all their work and efforts in the ADNUAA. Father Joel presented the awards to all the past ADNUAA Presidents and their representatives who came. The second special award given was the “Most Outstanding Alumni Award”. Initiated and sponsored by the HS batch ‘79, this special award was given to Mr. Francis Calma of HS'80 for his exemplary achievements as an Ateneo alumnus. He was given a special plaque of appreciation. After these two special awards, the incoming ADNUAA President, Mr. Ringo Badilla, then delivered a brief closing remarks. The program proper finally ended but the night had really just began and there were no stopping the alumni/ae from having fun! They spent the night enjoying the music, drinking and being in the company of long-time friends and classmates.

With each year's homecoming, faces may get older, hairs grayer and waistlines bigger; but the same bond, perhaps now even stronger, runs in every Atenean's blood. That is why Ateneo Homecomings are much awaited, anticipated and grandly prepared. Next December 30, there will be new stories to tell, old and new friends to meet, new activities to be organized, but there will always be the same Ateneo we will all come home to.

Animo Ateneans, Animo Ateneo!!!

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The Ateneo de Naga High School Batch 1980 and the ADNUAA 2005 wish to thank and acknowledge the generous support of the individual members of Ateneo High School batch 1980, Globe Handyphone, Nestle Phils., Unilever Phils., San Miguel Corporation, Omega Gold Property Ventures, and the other individual and corporate donors. The help and support of the Ateneo de Naga Alumni Affairs Office is also gratefully acknowledged.