The SOAR Night on 27 February 2015 challenged student organizations to be and do the aptissimi, which means the very best. Aptissimi was used by Juan de Polanco, a Jesuit and close friend of Ignatius of Loyola.

Director of Student Affairs Rodolfo Virtus Jr explained to the organizations, however, that being and doing one’s best should be understood not only in the context of academic excellence but more importantly, in character formation and service to Bikol and the country. The keynote speaker, Jonas Soltes, emphasized that the journey towards aptissimi shall be without failures and hardships, but one should not fear being different and making hard decisions. These, according to Soltes, have to be anchored on a person’s foundational values.

Soltes is the Political Affairs Assistant to Camarines Sur District III Representative Leni Robredo, and former staff of the late Secretary of Interior and Local Government Jesse Robredo. In between his government service, he worked as Southern Luzon correspondent at the Philippine Daily Inquirer. He is an alumnus of Ateneo de Naga University and a former editor of The Pillars Publication.

Old, New Winners

Held at the Arrupe Convention Hall, SOAR recognized once again the top-performing organizations, leaders, moderators and projects or School Year 2014-2015. Began in 2011, SOAR improved its systems and guidelines in documenting and evaluating the activities and performance of organizations. A tool that appreciates the holistic development of the groups was used to determine to top groups. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of leaders and moderators were utilized, and scholastic records and work performance were also looked at by the Board of Judges.

Extra-curricular group Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE) was the night’s biggest winner. It bagged the Fr. Raul Bonoan, SJ Most Outstanding Student Organization of the Year, Outstanding Extra-Curricular Organization, and Achievement Award in Social Involvement (Extra-curricular Organization category). The organization’s president, Regine De La Viña, earned the Jesse M. Robredo Most Outstanding Student Leader o the Year. Juan Carlos De Los Reyes of ASBJE and Uswag Junior Ragles Club (UsJE) earned his fourth medal as one of the Fr John Phelan, SJ Outstanding Moderators of the Year.

The Tarp-Bag Project of the ASBJE was also declared as the year’s Best Special Project. Tarp-Bag, a development of nationally award-winning Tarpadyak, makes use of tarpaulin scraps to fabricate bags for children of indigent families in Punta Tarawal, Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

The Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) retained its position as Outstanding Co-Curricular Organization for the second year. It also won Achievement Award in Skills Development (Co-curricular Organization category) and a silver medal for JPIA President Jobelle Marie Pascual, runner-up Outstanding Student Leader. Dr. Helenita Ruiz, JPIA’s moderator, was highly commended.

The Peer Coaches, Student and Kaabay Volunteers of the College Guidance Center emerged as Outstanding Volunteer Organization, while the Center for Community Development Volunteers (CCD Voltz) was the runner up in the same category.

The PCSKV earned the Achievement Award in Skills Development (Volunteer Organization category) and a Phelan medal for moderator Mageline Magayanes. CCD Voltz, on the other hand, was the winner of Achievement Award in Social Involvement (Volunteer Organization category) and Phelan medal for Aldrin Belmes.

Two-year old art group Elihidos positioned itself in the ranks of more tenured organizations as it received important awards in SOAR 2015. It took home the awards or runner-up Outstanding Extra-curricular Organization and Most Improved Student Organization. The group’s co-founder Kim Aimei Seng was also recognized as one of the top five Outstanding Student Leaders, while Timothy Paul Pron, the president, was highly commended.

The Association of Psychology Students o Ateneo (APSA) came second to JPIA as Outstanding Co-Curricular Organization. It was also given the Achievement Award in Social Involvement (Co-curricular Organization category).

Aside from giving out awards, SOAR 2015 also featured performances from the University Band and Choir, Ateneo Dance Club and Mark Avila. The program was hosted by Jan Victor Agna, Media Studies faculty, and Joel John Guererro, coordinator for services at the University Health Services.

Around 300 students in their formal attire came. Jesuits, administrators and officers of the Parents and Teachers Association also attended the affair.

Here is the complete list of SOAR 2015 awardees:

 

Student Organization Category

Fr. Raul Bonoan, SJ. Student Organization of the Year Award:

Ateneo Sarong Banggui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

 

 Outstanding Co-Curricular Organization: Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)

Outstanding Co-Curricular Organization, First Runner-Up: Association of Psychology Students (APSA)

Outstanding Extra -Curricular Organizations: Ateneo Sarong Banggui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

Outstanding Extra-Curricular Organization, First Runner-Up: Elihidos

Outstanding Volunteer Organization: Peer Coaches, Student and Kaabay Volunteers (PCSKV)

Outstanding Volunteer Organization, First Runner-Up: Center for Community Development Volunteers (CCD Voltz)

 

Most Promising Organization: Ateneo LeaderShape Society

Most Improved Organization: Elihidos

 

Individual Category

Jesse Robredo Outstanding Student Leaders of the Year:

Most Outstanding Student Leader of the Year: Regine De La Viña, President, Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

First runner-up: Madelle Ruby Malabanan, President, Ateneo Paradigm Eclat Xircle (APEX)

Second runner-up: Kim Aimei Seng, Oracle, Elihidos

Third runner-up: Jobelle Marie Pascual, President, Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants – Ateneo de Naga University Chapter (JPIA)

Fourth runner-up: Joy Agor, External Advertising Officer, Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)

 

Certificate of Commendation:

Maurice Claire A. Aquino, Internal Vice President, Days with the Lord-Women (DWTL-W)

Bernadette Ong of Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

Timothy Paul Pron, President, Elihidos

Noemae Kae Fucio, Special Needs of the Poor Cluster Head, Uswag Junior Eagles

 

Fr. John Phelan, SJ Outstanding Moderators of the Year: (not in particular order)

Aldrin Belmes, Center for Community Development Volunteers (CCD-Voltz)

Shayne Bonavente of Days with the Lord-Women

Juan Carlos De Los Reyes, Uswag Junior Eagles and Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

Mageline Magayanes, Peer Coaches, Student and Kaabay Volunteer Group (PCSKV)

Evelyn Amaro, Gabay Scholars Organization

 

Certificate of Commendation:

Engelbert Baloloy, Ateneo Paradigm Éclat Xircle (APEX)

Federico Jose Lagdameo, Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)

Jerico Lejano, Days with the Lord-Men (DWLT-M)

Dr. Helenita Ruiz, Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)

Jonafel Singson, Ateneo Catechetical Instructions League (ACIL)

 

Activity Category

Achievement Award in Spiritual Formation:

Extra-Curricular Organization: Ateneo Catechetical Instructions League (ACIL)

Volunteer Organization: Chaplaincy Student Volunteers (CSV)

Achievement Award in Skills Development:

Co-Curricular Organization: Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)

Extra-Curricular Organization: Ateneo Literary Association (ALA)

Volunteer Organization: Peer Coaches, Student and Kaabay Volunteers (PCSKV)

Achievement Award in Social Involvement Program:

Co-Curricular Organization: Association of Psychology Students (APSA)

Extra-Curricular Organization: Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

Volunteer Organization: Center for Community Development Volunteers (CCD Voltz)

 

Best Special Project: Tap-Bag, Ateneo Sarong Bangui Junior Eagles (ASBJE)

 

Special Awards

Service Awards

Louis Carla Mae Ayao

Kim Aimei Seng

Ateneo Digital Artists’ Society (Ateneo DARTS)

Days with the Lord – Men (DWTL-M)

Ateneo Junior Marketing Association (AJMA)

Junior Ateneo Business Managers Association (JABMA)

 

Certificates of Appreciation

University Choir

University Band

Ateneo College Red Cross Youth (ACRCY)

Ateneo Dance Club (ADC)                                           

College of Nursing – Clinical Instructors and Donor Care

Parents and Teachers’ Association (PTA)

Alpha Phi Omega – ADNU Chapter (APO)

Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA)

Supreme Student Government (SSG)