OPENING THE TIME CAPSULE




The Labial Story


Dancing janitors

These were short moments in the Xavier High life
but immortalized by this heck of an innovation.

TOO MUCH OF RIZAL IS GOOD!

TOO MUCH OF RIZAL IS GOOD!

"To doubt God is to doubt one's own conscience, and in consequence it would be to doubt everything." - Jose Rizal

Rizal, considered to be a “rare comet” by Blumentritt is one mortal that indeed shines as a guiding star for us students. He is an individual, Malayan, who embodied a noble spirit and a great mind who used it for the liberation of the powerless and poor. In our everyday life, we should take into consideration five principles of our Hero’s “way of doing things” in the hope of inspiring others to imitate his great and passionate drive.

Committed to learning and its application. Rizal committed himself to the pursuit of both knowledge and wisdom. He went to places always with a mind set to learn. This is best shown in his observation written in his diaries. Rizal is a very keen observer; he always jots down what he had observed in the places he had been. Aside from observing people, he also observes systems, mechanism and the cause and effect of vast human affairs such as science, culture, government, art and economy etc. He is not satisfied with observation, Rizal extracts all the learnings and insights form it. He also transcends from a mere learned person, he applies what he had learned. The best example of this was his great novels, his inventions, his discoveries and his community projects in Dapitan. Rizal constantly observes, extract insights and applies it with the underlying current of helping to liberate an oppressed people.

Seeks great mentors. One shining characteristic of Rizal is his desire to learn from other great thinkers. His 1^st trip to Europe served as the great example of this trait. He met with so many great scientific minds with the intention of knowing more from them. Rizal had met an endless list of scientist, physicians and so many other experts of certain fields that crafted his genius mind. One particular is his best friend, Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt who was the director of the Ateneo de Leitmertitz. Others such as his great Jesuit mentors in the person of Fr. Sanchez and Pastells contributed much of Rizal’s growth. Rizal seeks not only personal experience but also heeds the advices and stories of people who know and had experience much.

Sees things in different point of views. Rizal as a great thinker sees things in different perspectives. This was best shown in his literary works such as his novels and essays. He sees social issues with a multi-faceted cause and solutions. He outlined pressing issues in his novels with such creativity that made a large room for interpretation. He easily finds relationship in seemingly different ideas because he sees it with a million perspectives. 

Seeks for truth and reason. Rizal is not satisfied by mere explanation, he pursues a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Rizal was great in uncovering truths and reasons that he crafted his own philosophy. It is relevant to note that Rizal was considered to be “obsessed” with the truth. This is attested by his standard in the La Solidaridad as a newspaper of truth. When faced by an issue, he sees all the facets of the subject matter and then digs deeper until the truth is uncovered.

Challenges the Status quo. The great heroic drive of Rizal means constantly challenging the Status quo. Rizal as our national hero faced a mighty yet fading empire with courage and valor that shook the roots of Spain. Aside from his political stand that altered the Spanish colonial order, Rizal in his daily dealing of life challenged the usual order. This is evident in his essays attacking the colonial authorities. In his essays, he upheld modern liberal democratic ideas that run contrary to the colonial policy. He always thinks and does the better. This is much evident in his Dapitan exile where the town’s development was ushered it by Rizal’s community projects.

In sum, Jose Rizal is a remarkable genius who lived in a constant interplay of experience (observations, seeks more), reflection and action (application). Rizal is a great example of Malay who used his talents for the benefit of an entire people.

to english 17

The Divine Ratio or Phi (1.6) made me wonder...

THE FINGERPRINT

You may not be aware of it or you may have not heard of it; but you are living in a universe created with such a precise tune that it leaves us with a big space to stare in amazement and contemplate its awesomeness. This discovery seems to prove the existence of an intelligent designer. This discovery is said to be the blueprint of his design, his trademark in creation. It is the Golden Ratio, the Phi, It is 1.6. It is a number with an ancient history. It was discovered by the early Greek thinkers who were fond of measuring the ratio of the plants and body parts. To their amazement, their calculations seem to be in a consistent agreement to a simple ratio of 1.6. They were so fascinated with its properties that they applied it in the construction of their great buildings. Even the Parthenon and the Egyptian pyramids were built with the Phi as its standard measurement.

As human civilization developed, so as its fetish with the implications of the ratio. Great minds in the middle ages and the Renaissance pondered over this simple number. The implication of the ratio began to branch out from mathematics to architecture, cosmology, biology, arts, music, and even to the supernatural. The great works of Leonardo da Vinci such as the Vitruvian man presents the ratios of the human body and so as the Mona Lisa which employs the golden ratio in its geometric equivalents. In nature, the golden ratio presents itself abundantly. The spiral of a seashell reveals the golden ratio, also expressed in the arrangement of branches along the stems of plants and of veins in leaves and even to the proportions of chemical compounds and the geometry of crystals. In the far reaches of the universe, even the spiral galaxies express the golden ratio. The list of matter which is created upon the seemingly mystical ratio keeps on growing. Scientists today are still looking at its application and properties while we students just mesmerize its uncanny existence in creation. This discovery opens a mysterious part of reality where fascination is the prerequisite of understanding. The Phi shows a reality that somehow bridges us to the divine. It may just be a grand coincidence or the very fingerprint of God in creation, but thing is for sure, the things around us different as there are posses a commonality, a connection, a uniformity that drives us to search for its ultimate source - GOD.

Tubag sa Mga Atenista

A RIPPLE EFFECT IN A PLACE FAR FAR AWAY. . .

The Leadership Story

Indahag National High School, Cagayan de Oro City became the epicenter of the Atenean student’s Social Involvement Program with the launching of “Tubag sa mga Atenista”. This is a comprehensive and consolidated social initiative that aims to pool all the resources of the student organizations and channel them to the school in the form of workshops, trainings, seminars and many more. The School of Business and Management was designated to initiate a Leadership Training Seminar. The FSSID designed the “Quest for Leadership – the Heroic Leadership Seminar Workshop” that aims to inculcate the Ignatian way of leading. The speaker was the Ms. Mona Lisa Pangan of the Campus Ministry. The seminar proved to be effective when the students of Indahag participated with willingness and eagerness. After inputs from the student themselves regarding their awareness of themselves, Snacks were served. The seminar ended around 12:00 noon with the students enriched with new insights and a new definition of leadership. The “Tubag sa mga Atenista ”, in its second year proved once again that students can create a significant impact in the future of our community through the formation of young minds and hearts.

to entrep

BUILDING HOMES, BUILDING HOPE , something like that . . .

A SUMMER OF SERVICE

Summer Build Activity Report:

With the initiative of the FSSID and in collabiration with the KKP-SIP, The SBMSC embark on a mission to build homes in the Habitat for Humanity in Kalaanan, Cagayan de Oro City on June 1, 2007. The eager volunteers gathered at the capsule in front of the Science Center around 8 am for the assembly. Fifteen volunteers opted to rendered their time and effort for this activity and with this sufficient number, the team left for Kalaanan in the means of a public jeepney. We began our volunteer work with an orientation with Mr. “Kokoy” Narva, the project manager of the Habitat for Humanity. After a few minutes of input, the volunteers marched towards the construction site to begin the real meat of the activity. Our efforts varied from shovelling through heavy rocks, mixing cement, and creating a human conveyor belt for efficient construction. We agreed to call it a day around 11:30 am after our snack break realizing that we have contributed significantly in the construction of the houses. It was a day not just of sweat and dirty hands but of bonding and reflection.

Poem to BM 1

A lady with colors entered the room

She fondly called herself Lady Love Ruth

She smile so bright and talks with an accent

That our tuition paid off to the last small cent

In a subject named BM we agree its fun

Enjoying every moment until all is done

We learned how to order ones affair with life

That business dreams glow with a great bright light

P – O – S – D – I – C – O – N!

P – O – S – D – I – C – O – N?

P – O – S – D – I – C – O – N!

P is for planning the vision in mind

That we seek the specific until we are blind

It is where all things start and begin

That screwing it up means you’ll never win

O is for organizing people in place

So they’ll work so well that they get straight A’s

Drawing a chart to see the line

So people will know that all is fine

S is for staffing good people with gifts

So they’ll love their work and never shift

Job description and its specification

Are small examples of this topic’s dictation

D is directing people and things

So they’ll willingly work without puppet strings

It’s talking and leading in a good right way

So performance grows and never sways

Controlling is the last of the few tech words

And one of the topics which seems absurd

It deals with a list of rules and guides

That you should follow to remain inside

See how interesting BM is

That we spend all night just for a quiz

It is full of lessons and awesome applications

That we can really use after March’s graduation

to central post

T H E N E W G O O D S T U F F

College life now seems to descend into a monotonous cycle as the school year enters into its midlife. A cycle that manifest through these things you may be guilty of doing: opening your eyes in the morning without the slightest smile, stretching your extremities out, kicking the blanket realizing it’s another school day, satisfying our morning physiological needs and doing all the hullabaloo of preparing what needs to be prepared for the day and that is if the one has the initiative to do so - over and over and over again without any sign of enthusiasm for a new day. A familiar scenario perhaps, I do think so. Even the smallest of life’s beauty has either shrunk to near insignificance or left unappreciated by our sometimes stiff, programmed and tired minds. We are oftentimes imprisoned by our own busyness that we fail to see the things –new things sprouting and revealing everywhere especially in school.

With the sound of it, it seems I’m writing a self-help article but sorry to disappoint you. I’m going to list a number of facts that hope to inject in your consciousness “the new” in school, that amends what the bulletin board and memos failed to do, the new good stuff that substantiate a polytonal college life, “new stuff” that breaks us from the bondage of “programmed” living and, “new stuff” that not only makes us informed but makes us appreciate what our Ateneo community has become and becoming.

Brace yourself as you glimpse the bright shining newness of Xavier University as it nears its 75^th year of serving Mindanao and the rest of the World.

XU as the New Cultural Melting Pot – Talent Expo and the Office of Culture and Arts

One distinct characteristic of any Ateneo school is its great emphasis on arts and culture. Xavier University committed itself to this philosophy through the establishment of the Office of Culture and Arts. For a long time, the artistic activities of our school were either handled by different student organizations or in some cases, being passed around by departments loosing momentum and sustainability. After years of leadership crisis, an office was finally established to funnel and cultivate all artistic activities of the University. The Office of Culture and Arts even in its infancy has initiated numerous activities which stimulates our artistic curiosity. If you ever had the chance of looking around the campus bulletin boards, you would see the “Cinemagis”, a one month movie marathon that features award-winning international and local films. Sustaining this upsurge of cultural consciousness, the Central Student Government also initiated the Talent Exposition once very month. This serves as a talent show where art in all of its form is showcased. May it be in a metal sculpture, an abstract painting of a pen, a hip-hop style tinikling or an oratorical stage play, these masterpieces of human expression finally got a standing ovation and a new focus through the works of the Office of Culture and the Arts and the Central Student Government. A new Xavier culture may dawn which gives arts and culture center stage in our Ateneo way of life.

NEW Extra Curricular student Orgs with an attitude

A visionary leader, inspired and dedicated members and a strong cause are the perfect ingredients for the formation of a youth organization. It is extraordinary that this year, the three ingredients existed and collated itself to form three new student organizations in campus namely the Kaliwat Ki Apo Agyu, Ateneo Camera Club, and the revival of the Dulaang Atenista. A go signal from the OSA and support of the Central Student Government further pushed the bar for their creation. Kaliwat Ki Apo Agyu (Descendants of Agyu) is built upon the preservation and promotion of heritage, understanding and empowerment of the Indigenous Youth of the University. The Ateneo Camera Club pools together all camera enthusiasts in the university. Its main thrust is the artistic cultivation of photography and the promotion of social justice through the captured and immortalized moments of the human story. The Dulaang Atenista, a revived organization is also built upon artistry with theatrical talent development as its main pillar. The Dulaang Atenista showcases diversified skits and plays which touches socio-political and cultural issues of the Filipino society. The Dulaang Atenista aims more than developing talents; it also serves as social consciousness’ theatrical channel to the students. The 3 new organizations is a diversified bunch having different fields of concern yet united by an underlying common goal of social awareness, cultivation of talents, preservation and promotion of culture, and formation.

XU as a center for good governance

Impassioned by the desire to promote justice through education, Xavier University has taken a bold step in actualizing this vision through the creation of the XU Governance and Leadership Institute. Spearheaded by Ms. Maria Elizabeth Olavides-Soriano, the XU GLI is formed with numerous partners such as the Ateneo School of Government, different government agencies, NGO’s and XU internal institutions formed the institution on August 9, 2007. Leadership and Governance may sound highfaluting you may say, but this institute dreams more than creating a fancy curriculum. It aims to mould civil servants into competent, committed and conscientious leaders whose forefront are the voiceless, powerless and the sick in society.

With a better Accent! The XU English Language Communication Development Institute

Another institute ascended this year with English language development as its standard banner. The XU ECDI envisions a professional workforce proficient in English and confident in written and oral English. The institute offers the following programs: Call Center English, Corporate English or Business Correspondence, English Preparation for IELTS, Teacher Training English Program, EFL Conversational English, and Creative Writing. All aims to hone our native tongue with a global prism in its view. Xavier University has taken another bold step in enhancing the one of the 3 C’s - the competence of its students in the field of English communication with global application in mind.

We are living in a reality where constrained constancy leads to decline and where the unhampered constant formation of new and better ideas, new methods, and new way of looking at things elevates it into a new level. Xavier University reminded us of that. Our Community with its long standing tradition of excellence can never grow if new ideas are left unexplored. With these new institutions in Xavier that reflects the meaning of growth, we must be reminded that as individuals, we also need to grow a new spirit inside us every single day built upon by constant and fundamental values. And with this new realization of the “new stuff”, I hope waking up every morning acts as a wonderful reminder that another chance of doing new and better things is given to us. So dear readers, I hope we all wake up in the morning having even the slightest enthusiasm because a new day is unfolding before you and remember tomorrow is the 1^st day of the rest of your “new-conscious” life!

To Lolo :-)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Manager- In charge of the marketing, human resource, auditing and the over-all management of the café on a day to day basis. He/She oversees all operation of the Café and directs its monthly and yearly goals.

Assistant Manager- In charge of the “student help desk” and assists the manager in the café’s day to day engagements. Assistant Manager also acts as liaison to outside suppliers. The Assistant Manager takeovers the position of manager in the absence of the latter.

Transaction Officer (Cashier) - In charge of keeping the financial records and the handling of cash and accounts. He / She creates a summary of transactions in a daily basis and submits it to the Manager for auditing.

Culinary Officer (Cook)- In charge of the culinary activities (food and drinks) of the café. He makes sure the food passes the quality standard of the café.

Assistant Culinary Officer (Assistant cook)- Assists the cook and is in charge of the purchasing of ingredients. The Assistant Cook takeovers the position of manager in the absence of the latter.

Drinks Officer (Bartender) - In charge of the mixing and serving of drinks. The bartender also hold custody of the drinks inventory.

Asset Maintenance personnel- In charge of the cleaning up, checking up, and the opening & closing of the café. He / She has direct custody of the Café’s maintenance, kitchen equipment and other physical asset (Chairs and tables) of the Café.

Security guard (agency)- In charge of the security & the safety of the café.




JOB SPECIFICATION

Manager:
At least a college graduate of commerce
Must have at least 3 years of experience
Must be at least 25 years of age

Assistant Manager:
At least a college graduate of any management course
Must have at least 1 year of experience
Must be at least 21 years old

Transaction Offficer:
At least a High School Graduate with previous experience
Must have a pleasing personality
Is honest

Culinary Officer:
Must have at least 2 years experience in the kitchen
Must be at least 21 years of age
At least a high school graduate
Must be hygienic


Assistant Culinary Officer:
At least a high school graduate
Must be hygienic
Must have at least 1year experience in the kitchen

Drinks Officer :
At least a college graduate of HRM major in bartending
Must be hygienic
Must have at least 2 year experience in bartending
Must be at least 21 years of age
Maintenance personnel:
Must have a pleasing personality
Must be alert to tidy up the café