CAS holds  month-long celebration with One CAS:
Synergy Among Diversities

In recognition of February as the month when the Ateneo de Naga was formally granted its university status, the College of Arts and Sciences conducted a series of activities with the theme, “One CAS: Synergy among Diversities.” Its main aim was to promote personal and professional growth, unity and camaraderie among members of different CAS co-curricular organizations, faculty members and staff through the scheduled activities and programs.  This included the tribute to a national and a local artist, book launching, lecture-forums, paper presentations, panel discussions, student conference, quiz bee on the ADNU core curriculum, academic contests, and a fun-filled night of songs among the faculty and staff of the College.

Among the highlights of the celebration were the Tribute to F. Sionil Jose, a National Artist for Literature whose ever-relevant play entitled, “Progress” was staged during a program last February 28, 2008 and the Lecture-Forum on “Alvin Yapan:Bikolnon Bricoleur Extraordinaire” delivered by Dr. Paz Verdades Santos on February 27, 2008. The latter event virtually turned out to be a tribute to Alvin Yapan, an ADNU high school alumnus whose novel, “Ang Sandali ng mga Mata” earned a National Book Award. These events hoped to give more worth emulating models to the present-day youth other than the celebrity icons they always see and hear about in the mass media and cyber highways.         

Although the month-long celebration formally started with the  five (5) pm mass at the Christ the King Church last February 6, 2008, sponsored by the different departments of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Philosophy and Social Sciences departments of the College already started holding their activities as early as the last week of January 2008. The Philosophy Department adopted for its theme: Soaring the Heights of Human Imagination and carried this out through a series of film showings, Bikol song-writing contest, interpretative dance contest, launching of Kristian Cordero's book “Pusuanon: mga Bersong Bikol”, and a lecture-forum series. Kristian Cordero talked about “Mother and Muse: The Virgin of Peñafrancia as Metaphor”;  Michael Roland F. Hernandez lectured on “Re-Reading Nietzsche:Aesthetics as Cultural Redemption”; Dennis Gonzaga on “Deconstructing the Concept of Space: A Baudrillardian Perspective”; and Dr. Leovino Ma. Garcia on “Re-figuring Modern Philippine Art” and “Cartography as a Narrative of Space”.

Last February 9, 2008, the Regional CAS Students Conference and Panel Discussion was held at the Ampitheater of the Madrigal Building, with the theme, “The Role of Arts and Sciences in the Total Development of Human Person”. Students from Universidad de Sta. Isabel and Ateneo de Naga University participated in the said conference. The panel discussants were Dr. Micahel A. Clores, Engr. Joel R. Noche and Dr. Jesus Cyril M. Conde. They respectively discussed the role of Sciences, Mathematics and Literature in the total development of the human person.
           
The Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, in collaboration with the Graduate School, conducted the 2008 Regional Mathematics Education Conference last February 15, 2008 at the Instructional Media Center, Phelan Hall, Ateneo de Naga University. The theme of the conference was, “Mathematics Across Disciplines.” The sessions were divided into two. In the morning, the lecturers were: Dr. Ronald SP. Elicay, Chairperson of Psychology Department, discussed “Psychology of Mathematics Education”; Dr. Rita R. Obsequio, a faculty member of the College of Education, discussed “Technology in Teaching Mathematics”; Fr. David John M. De los Reyes, S.J., a faculty member of the Social Sciences Department, discussed “Mathematics in the Humanities”; and Dr. Auxencia A. Limjap, Chairperson of the Science Education  Department, College of Education, De La Salle University, discussed the “Transformative Learning in Mathematics Education”.  In the afternoon, during the concurrent sessions, selected teachers from the Mathematics cluster and other departments also held a discussions on different topics related to mathematics across disciplines.
           
Last February 18, 2008, Mr. Sherwin A. Pasiona, a faculty member of the Theology Department, presented a paper entitled, “Sacramentum Caritatis” at the Instructional Media Center, Phelan Hall, Ateneo de Naga University. His talk was an exposition of the apostolic exhortation of the Holy Father Benedict XVI on the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Church's life and mission. The said presentation was actively participated in by the students and faculty members of the Theology Department.
           
Another paper presentation entitled, “Assistantship as a Metacognitive Strategy among College Teachers and Students” was held at the Instructional Media Center last February 23, 2008 by Richard dlC. Nebres, an alumnus of the Psychology Department, and a Guidance Counselor of St. Agnes Academy, Legazpi City. This was attended by Psychology and Education students of Ateneo de Naga University.
           
To generate more awareness on the Jesuit education core, a Quiz Bee on the CAS Core Curriculum was conducted last February 27, 2008 at the Arrupe Retreat Hall. Participants came from the Departments of Business Administration, Accountancy, and Education. Cash prizes and certificates of appreciation were the incentives distributed during the occasion.
           
In addition to the tribute to F Sionil Jose and lecture-forum of Dr. Paz Verdades Santos, the English and Language Department sponsored a variety of competitions namely, grammar games, spelling bee, essay writing, extemporaneous and impromptu speaking contests, oratorical contest and literature games. It also held poetry reading and a seminar on “Assessing Reading and Writing” with Miss Shajanni Velasco as resource person. 
           
To add color to the celebration, all the departments of the College of Arts and Sciences displayed different features that informed the students on the significance of each department, in a form of exhibit.
           
The month-long activity was capped by the CAS Night, where the entire family of the College of Arts and Sciences got the chance to gather and enjoy a night of songs, fun and rare opportunity to bond with each other. It was held at the Coko Cafe, Madrigal Building last March 6, 2008.