Freshmanual One 2020-2021 by The GUIDON

A message from your O-Chairs PATRICIA LERO AND TRISHA REYES ORSEM 2020 CHAIRPERSONS

Above anything else, we’d like to extend our sincerest congratulations to you for making it this far. Many of you have likely faced several challenges to get here, and may even be scared of what is to come, but worry not! Ateneo is a vibrant, loving community ready to nurture your passions and advocacies, guide you on the path of discovery, and push you to grow beyond your wildest dreams. Being a freshman is incredibly exciting because you get to experience academic life from a completely different perspective and overcome adversities that further shape you into becoming a person for others. This semester’s online setting is definitely something new and challenging for everyone, but it will not take away the opportunities you’ll have in order to learn, grow, and excel. It may not be easy adjusting to the University’s different systems while balancing your academics and extracurricular activities, but you will surely be guided throughout your entire journey by people who are rooting for your success. We wish you the best of luck as you start this new chapter of your life. We welcome you with open arms to your new home for the next four or five years. Though we face difficult times now with more challenges ahead, know that we are here as one community to support you as we hope and work for a future brighter than this. Tuloy, freshie!

Photo courtesy of JASON MARIANO 3

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REIMAGINING TRADITION

OrSem Tuloy Written by DANIELA LORENZO and GABRIEL V. SAULOG

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mass gatherings nationwide were cancelled over health and safety concerns; this included the Ateneo de Manila University’s freshman Orientation Seminar (OrSem). Since the annual event helps ease the freshies’ transition into their new environment, the OrSem Organizing Committee (OrCom) decided to continue its pursuit of providing the freshmen with a memorable OrSem experience. Although a number of changes have been made this year to adapt to an online setting, the OrCom has worked to ensure that incoming freshmen will receive the same warm and energetic welcome that OrSem is known for. CHANGES WITHIN COMMITTEES To guarantee everyone’s safety, the OrCom planned the entire event without meeting up physically—

serving as a glimpse into what facilitating this year’s online OrSem would be like. Considering the well-being of the freshmen, the OrCom ultimately decided to spread out online OrSem over seven short days as opposed to two full days. “We know that sitting in front of a screen the whole day is actually more tiring than being at the event physically,” Entertainment Head Jan Ong (4 BS ME) shares. Another important aspect of OrSem is supplying the freshmen with relevant and engaging content. For example, asynchronous and synchronous materials were provided for those who face connectivity issues in order to promote a more inclusive atmosphere. Content uploaded on the OrSem website can be viewed by freshmen even after the event. To ensure that the online shift is executed efficiently, the various

committees underwent adjustments in their functions, structure, and output. For instance, the Documentations and Publications (DNP) Committee dissolved the Photos subcommittee since it can no longer fulfill its mandate in an online setting. The DNP also found the need to reevaluate the tasks of the remaining subcommittees—Design, Videos, and Journals, namely—to better fit the current OrSem’s needs. “I think the biggest change is that the platform of OrSem [2020] itself will be a website, and this website will be designed by DNP,” shares committee head Dana Daffon (4 BFA ID). Meanwhile, the Entertainment Committee’s main challenge was producing a variety of content that would keep the freshies involved and interested. “We didn’t take any volunteers as compared

to previous years, because an important part of online work is coordinating with each other and we wanted to be efficient with our resources,” Ong adds. A size cut was also a move for the Logistics Committee, which— in previous years—had the largest volunteer pool in OrSem. Both Logistics Head Briana Aguas (4 AB IS) and Security and Mobilizations (SecMob) Core member Magnus Untal (5 BS CS-DGDD) share that they were able to reimagine the committee’s role to adapt to an online setting. Typically, a SecMob volunteer is expected to work behind the scenes and ensure a block’s physical safety. For OrSem Tuloy, however, SecMobs are tasked to schedule synchronous online sessions and retain necessary contingencies for all possible situations—such as if a Talks and Tours (TNT) volunteer disconnects from the call, or if a fire breaks out in a freshie’s home. In addition, the Logistics Committee prepared an online campus tour to give the students an accurate feel of what to expect upon returning to campus; the TNT volunteers will conduct this during their sessions. They have also created a primer that includes tips and tricks that may help the freshies navigate around campus. Another one of the bigger changes made with this year’s OrSem comes from within the TNT Committee. According to committee Head Aleanna Cordova (4 AB IS), translating the signature TNT energy into the online platform is a difficult task. Not only will it be physically draining

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for the volunteers, it may also be overwhelming for them to balance several commitments at the same time. However, Cordova also sees this move as an opportunity to place the TNT Committee’s focus on the substance and content of their spiels rather than their liveliness. After all, the committee aims to make the freshies feel welcomed in Ateneo through group dynamics and synthesis sessions geared towards improving block camaraderie and recognizing individual apprehensions. With the help of TNT volunteers, freshmen can expect to develop new life-lasting friendships, whether the bond comes from their fellow blockmates or the upperclassmen who were involved in the event. “As TNTs, we not only want to make the freshies feel welcomed in the Ateneo, but we want them to have people to come to at any time if they need,” Cordova asserts. “It’s very important on our part to help them in getting to know the Ateneo that they’re getting into, whether it be the history or college culture that they’ll encounter throughout their stay in the University.” ORSEM, AFTER ALL With almost a thousand volunteers every year, the OrSem experience speaks volumes on how the event touches the lives of so many people. OrSem’s tagline, “No other University does it like we do,” is often said in reference to all those who selflessly prepare for the event. The question now, however—especially for all those who volunteer—is whether OrSem

Briana Aguas, Logistics Head

Aleanna Cordova, TNT Head

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Dana Daffon, DNP Head

With all our preparations and actions exerted into this, there will always be an end receiver to their acts and people will really appreciate what we do.

ALEANNA CORDOVA TNT HEAD

is still worth coming back to even if it is held online. Much of the OrCom would argue that OrSem is worth it. Daffon says that she loves volunteering for OrSem because it shows how the Ateneo community can come together as one. “Each participant is able to hone their talents, passions, and skills in a way that will bring joy to other people,” she says. “It’s also where you can see the biggest collaboration amongst Ateneans, wherein each and every volunteer–and their task–is valued.” For Untal, he credits his OrSem experience as a freshie as the motivating factor that brought him back to the event. “I didn’t really understand how the volunteers back then could be so full of love and energy, but I wanted to be able to pay it forward to the future batches of freshmen,” he says. Cordova echoes Untal’s thoughts, stating that she has come back to OrSem for the past three years because she knows that her actions can affect those around her. “With all our preparations and actions exerted into this, there will always be an end receiver to their acts and people will really appreciate what we do,” she shares. Even with all the adjustments and change in scenery for this year’s program, OrSem 2020 lives up to its theme: Tuloy, or to continue. As OrCom perseveres to give the freshmen batch the best possible welcome regardless of the setting, OrSem, at its core, persists as an act of compassion and a labor of love–always, and in all ways.

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Ateneo Blue Cloud THE LEARNING GOES ON Written by DANIELA LORENZO

Schools and universities worldwide have found ways to continue educating their students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ateneo de Manila University has followed suit by introducing the AteneoBlueCloud: A virtual campus that encourages a flexible approach to online learning. AteneoBlueCloud is mainly a website of teaching resources and frequently asked questions, but the name is also used as a catch-all for the University’s system of learners and educators. For the next semester, AteneoBlueCloud will guide the University’s mission-vision for innovative online educational services while remaining true to the Ignatian pedagogy.

Illustration by JAY BUSTAMANTE

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BREAKING NEW GROUND Guided by the Ateneo curriculum, AteneoBlueCloud differs from other online learning systems because of its framework: Adaptive Design for Learning (ADL). This philosophy gives consideration to those without access to a reliable internet connection, as well as those with special learning needs, to ensure that no student is left behind. In line with this, attendance regulations will not apply for the first semester of AY 2020-2021, and print materials may be sent to students with connectivity problems. Lenz Dagohoy’s (3 BS PS) case is one example to consider, whose story went viral after she tweeted photos of an envelope from Ateneo that contained a flash drive of her class modules. “I just contacted my [Philosophy] professor and told her that I am struggling with internet issues. She talked to me and referred me to Ma’am Lucia Chavez of [the Office of Social Concern and Involvement]. Ma’am Chavez sent me the flash drive containing

the modules,” she shares, noting that her internet would fluctuate every two hours. NECESSARY CHANGES To address the concerns of students like Dagohoy, the ADL has made several adjustments in design, approach, delivery, and learning outcomes. Learning will be carried out in the form of asynchronous courses, giving students the opportunity to study at their own pace. In contrast to a typical 20-week semester, each semester will be divided into quarters of eight to nine weeks in order to lessen students’ load and keep their focus on fewer subjects at a time. For the first semester of AY 2020-2021, Canvas will be the main Learning Management System, though faculty members may opt to use Moodle. Educators have also undergone training on enforcing learning outcomes and utilizing the internet to maximize interaction with their students.

To further serve the student body, LS-One: The LS Virtual One Stop Student Services Hub was also created, which consolidates important information and directories. Additional assistance is provided through OSSO@LS-One, a website where students can chat with University personnel in real time. In these uncertain times, the Ateneo has constructed a framework grounded in compassion, with learning as its end goal. “[I] honestly believe that Ateneo has one of the most student-centered online class models out there,” Dagohoy shares. “I appreciate Ateneo’s efforts in checking in on their students though and setting up platforms of communication.” One can expect that thepersonal, spiritual, and social formation of Ateneans will continue to take place virtually. Through the distinct and adaptive learning offered by AteneoBlueCloud, students will still be able to experience the vibrant spirit of the Ateneo community from their screens.

[I] honestly believe that Ateneo has one of the most student-centered online class models out there.

LENZ DAGOHOY 3 BS PHYSICS

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Surviving college (digitally) Written by LYRAH LAPID Illustrations by KURT TAN

It’s hard being a freshman, especially when you have to adapt to an entirely new mode of learning. You might be clueless about what to do, who to approach, and—most importantly—how to adjust. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way. To help you transition into both the Ateneo Blue Cloud and college itself, here are some tips from Vantage on how to survive college digitally.

1. DOWNLOAD CANVAS AND MOODLE

In line with the shift to online classes, Ateneo has set Canvas and Moodle as the main platforms for classes, also called the Learning Management Systems. Downloading these apps on your phone or tablet can help you keep track of lectures and requirements from your professors. These can also notify you about announcements made while you’re doing other things away from your computer.

2. BOOKMARK IMPORTANT SITES LIKE LS ONE AND AISIS

Never miss out on your classes by keeping important sites easily accessible on your devices! With uncertain times ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you never know when you’ll need to check your syllabus, contact your department, or get in touch with the Ateneo’s student services. Luckily, you can do these easily by setting LS One and AISIS online as bookmarks.

3. NEVER MISS AN UPDATE

Keep yourself in the loop for important announcements, developments, and interesting events by liking the following Ateneorelated official Facebook pages: Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo Student Blueboard, The GUIDON, The Sanggunian, and your home department’s page. Aside from this, make it a habit to check your OBF email as University-wide memos will be sent there.

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4. ORGANIZE YOUR LEARNING MATERIALS Online learning means online everything—lectures, readings, submissions. It may get challenging to keep track of things no matter which platform you use. With this in mind, organizing your files by names or categorizing them into folders is bound to help, especially when you need to review! You can group your tabs using the Google Chrome extension Toby. The best part of it is, it also lets you share these tab groups with other people, making things easier when group work piles up.

5. JOIN ORGANIZATIONS Ateneo is known for its vibrant org culture which has helped Ateneans find their second home. In times of extreme acads-induced stress, many students find comfort in their orgmates and so can you! Apart from helping you meet new people, joining orgs also to new responsibilities such as events planning and project management. With over a hundred organizations that cater to a diverse set of interests in the Ateneo, it would be almost impossible to not find anything worth trying.

6. FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM College isn’t easy. No matter which program you’re in, you are bound to face challenges and moments that will make you doubt yourself. Because of this, it is very important that you find a solid support system to help you get through those difficult times. These people you can talk to and rely on for comfort and support can come in the form of your family, your new block barkada, or even your org mates.

7. ALLOT TIME TO REST With so many things to think about and accomplish, it’s quite easy to get burnt out. To prevent this from happening, try making sure that you have time to rest. It can be through setting a rest day every week, or blocking out an hour and a half each day just to relax and do something you enjoy just because. After all, having strong mental health does help in achieving good grades and maintaining positive, healthy relationships with your friends.

Hopefully, the tips mentioned above will help you navigate the new world that is college here in the Ateneo. We hope that doing them will aid you in your pursuit of magis—doing more for the greater good—during your stay in the university.

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Inside Ateneo’s “Org is life” motto Written by LYRAH LAPID and GABRIEL V. SAULOG

Illustration by TIFFANY CU

Many Ateneans get their first taste of the University’s famed org life at the annual Recruitment Week (RecWeek). Wherever you look, you can expect upperclassmen in their creative org booths doing all sorts of gimmicks to get you to join their org: Handing out flyers, chanting cheers, or giving you their best spiels.

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The application process is fairly simple. You sign up for an interview or attend a general assembly. Eventually, you find yourself rushing through the halls of Ateneo’s hub for organizations—the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership— to attend a meeting or hang out in your org room. You’re no longer a lost freshman but a fully-fledged org member excited to bond with org mates and work on projects. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has indefinitely halted campus culture as we know it, as everything— from org meetings to RecWeek—has migrated online. Due to restrictions that limit in-person interaction, org recruitment and management have become more challenging than before. AN UNFAMILIAR SET-UP League of Independent Organizations (LIONS) Coordinator Cristina Batalla (4 AB DS) shares that they expect less students to sign up for orgs this year. “It’s difficult to gather people if you’re not in a physical space. Kasi in the real RecWeek…there are people right there who can pitch the org to you...talk you into it, and connect with you on a more emotional, human level,” she says. Council of Organizations of the Ateneo-Manila (COA-M) RecWeek Head Isabelle Cruz (4 BS ME) adds that another challenge is showing students how vital org culture is to Atenean student life. “It’s really challenging for the org community because a lot of the initiatives and interactions of an org need on-campus interaction,” she says.

To combat all these challenges, Ateneans can expect a RecWeek that spans two weeks so that orgs can maximize promotions. According to Cruz, COA-M and LIONS will be assisting the orgs by providing collateral blast schedules and by maximizing social media platforms to allow each one to recruit fairly. Batalla adds that they have been working with Developer Student Club Loyola to produce an application that will centralize the RecWeek processes for both COA and LIONS orgs. BREATHING LIFE INTO NEW CULTURE As COA-M and LIONS work towards reinventing RecWeek, the student orgs face the challenge to align their thrusts accordingly for the year. For instance, the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS) needed to reevaluate their programs and processes since their events are heavily reliant on the physical platform. “As an events-based organization, a lot of time was put into redefining the roles of our production staff and performers, as well as with carefully selecting which projects we should transform into online activities,” says CADS President Tisha Agbayani (4 BS COMTECH). On the other end, sector-based orgs like Ateneo Special Education Society (SPEED) have also faced difficulties with the new set-up, for they typically further their advocacies by visiting their partner communities. Aside from the impossibility of these visits, SPEED President Gabby Ozaeta (5 BS

CH-MSE) notes that it’s also become much more difficult to establish connections among members of the org. Because of these obstacles, orgs have found more creative ways to bond and check up on each other’s workload and mental health. Agbayani shares that CADS will execute various projects to help transition old and new members to the online platform, as well as provide bonding opportunities where they may develop as “artists and leaders.” “It was important for [the Executive Board] to ensure that our members are able to transition smoothly into an online setting–making it a safe space for collaboration and creativity,” she asserts. Habitat for Humanity-Blue Chapter (HFH-BC) President Kitchy Dy (4 BS ME) mentions that HFHBC members have virtual workout and online gaming sessions to build rapport with one another. Meanwhile, Ateneans Guided and Inspired by their Love for Animals (AGILA) President Clio Banta-ao (4 AB IS) says that AGILA members are encouraged to be transparent with their workload and mental well-being. This is so that AGILA’s Executive Board can take important factors into consideration when delegating tasks. AGILA also hopes to further its advocacy by reaching out to shelters struggling to provide for its animals’ needs, as well as informing the Ateneo community on social media that our campus cats remain cared for. Meanwhile, Ozaeta mentions that all sector-based orgs have begun discussing possible collaborations.

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Photo courtesy of JULIA CARPIO

“We’ve been talking amongst ourselves about allowing each of our organizations to have their own space to promote their advocacies.” ORGS AS OUR HOME AND REFUGE Regardless of the online setup and the obstacles it brings, freshies can still find value in joining orgs. Cruz shares that she owes a lot of her personal growth to the org community. Meanwhile, Agbayani adds that org life “provides opportunities that cater to diverse talents and skill sets, along with a family and second home within the university.” Another perk of joining orgs, according to Dy, are the hard and soft skills one can learn. “Soft and transferable skills such as leadership, work ethic, and teamwork can be applied in other aspects of life, including academics and our future careers,” she explains. “For hard skills that aren’t covered

in your course such as writing or coding, joining orgs that specialize in these are a great way to develop your interests and skills through various avenues provided by the organization.” Apart from personal development and newfound friendships, Banta-ao believes that orgs extend beyond the University setting by encouraging others to fight for social change. Cruz echoes this by stating, “Orgs are spaces where students can go deeper into advocacy, and eventually, stand up and make ripples of change.” As exemplified by each org’s commitment to adapting with the times, the motto “Org is life” still applies regardless of the setting. In the end, finding an org can be a source of growth, comfort, and meaningful work. With the vibrant org culture that Ateneo boasts, the chance to discover your passion and to help others is there for the taking. It only becomes a matter of

Orgs are spaces where students can go deeper into advocacy, and eventually, stand up and make ripples of change.

ISABELLE CRUZ COA RECWEEK HEAD

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Dear senior self

Written by GABRIEL V. SAULOG Illustrations by FIDESS BISNAR

Amid the ongoing pandemic, it’s easy to forget that one is about to begin their life-changing college journey. As cliché as it may sound, life is going to be a lot different by the time you’re a senior. College will affect you in a multitude of ways you won’t expect–whether those entail expanding your social network, shifting career paths, or with finding new passions in life. Throughout all these changes in your life, it’s important to take note of who you are in this moment in time–and what better way is there to chronicle who you are today than by writing to your future self? If you’re unsure of what to say, here are some guide questions to help you gather your thoughts and structure your letter.

1. Who are you now? What are the things you’re interested in and excited for? How are you feeling as you write this letter? Is there anything you want to change about yourself? 2. Who are the people important to you at this moment? Who are the friends you currently hold dear? Who do you hope to be closer to or to meet in college? 3. What’s important to you right now? What are your priorities? 4. What are the things you hope to accomplish or learn as an Atenean? 5. And, finally: What’s something you want your ‘senior self’ to remember? STEPS ON HOW TO SEND IT: 1. Go to futureme.org 2. Type out your letter! 3. Set the date to August 28, 2024/2025 (This should mark three/four years since OrSem: Tuloy!) 4. Input your email address below. 5. Send your letter to the future!

Vantage Magazine Editors Andrea Mikaela Llanes Beatriz C. Reyes Writers Daniela Lorenzo Gabriel V. Saulog Lyrah Lapid Photos Editors Raya Barreiro Kelly Veneracion Photographers Julia Carpio Graphic Design Editors Neil R. Reyes Denev C. Ng Illustrators Kurt Tan Jay Bustamante Tiffany Cu Geri Puno Fidess Bisnar Layout Artist James Elijah Yap Cover Art James Elijah Yap

Editor-in-Chief Danielle R. Garcia Associate Editor Tatiana L. Maligro Managing Editor Bryce R. Rubi Design Executive Editor Carmela B. Masiglat

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