League of the underdogs

by Alexis M. Dy, Angie V. Garcia on August 26, 2011

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

In the 2006 movie Accepted, Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) files for the accreditation of South Harmon Institute of Technology, a school that he started on his own. When the School Board asks for the curriculum of the “institute,” a white board filled with a handwritten list of subjects was presented. The curriculum detailed all kinds of subjects taught by the students themselves.

Bartleby told the students to write down the topics they wanted to learn, because no matter how uncommon the topics may sound, these were all welcome in South Harmon. This eventually became the foundation for the school’s teaching philosophy: you get to learn what you were interested in.

In the Ateneo, a similar concept animates a group of unaccredited orgs. These orgs also provide an avenue for students to meet other people and to develop their skills. Despite the lack of accreditation, these orgs serve as concrete manifestations of the diversity of the student body’s interests—be it the love for history, cars, photography or even magic trade cards.

Now, these unaccredited orgs are banding together, and in an effort to gain more exposure on campus, the League of Independent Organizations (Lions) was formed.

Showing prowess

Conceptualized last year by Harald Tomintz, Lions was created in order to help unaccredited orgs gain representation, visibility and support.

“It’s an opportunity for the [unaccredited] organizations to show the Loyola Schools community what they’re made of,” says this year’s Lions Chancellor Walter Young, who is pulling double-duty as president of the European Studies home org.

Now on its second year, Lions has made slow but steady progress. Representatives from the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo and the Sanggunian sit in at their meetings, with current talks about Lions’ participation in the college fair and the possibility of a “Lions Week.”

Walter acknowledges that there is still a lot of work to be done in order for independent orgs to be more recognized in campus. Challenges include the sometimes inconsistent attendance of some org representatives during meetings and the determination of what org projects are in line with Lions’ goals.

“We’re trying to be wais. We don’t want to make big strides while the foundation is not sturdy enough,” he says.

Nevertheless, Lions’ 23 (and counting) unaccredited orgs are set to make a deeper impact on campus. g Magazine brings you some of the most promising of these independent student groups —these ones look set to make this school year a roaring one for their org.

Balay

Balay, derived from the Visayan word for home, is in constant pursuit of deeper knowledge and appreciation for Filipino heritage.

A culture enthusiast himself, Balay Founder and President Eos Trinidad wanted a stronger link between national pride and the Ateneo community. He believes that the members of the org will become advocates of Filipino heritage. “[By becoming part of Balay], you somehow consent to be a voice of the culture, arts and history of the Philippines,” he says.

Balay’s first year plans will focus on exposing a critical perspective of Philippine history through mentorships, assemblies and workshops. Eos also plans to start an online publication, where student academic researches and papers can be accessible to others.

Be it for academics, researchers, gallery owners, conservationists or artists, Eos also believes that the org will become a springboard for its members in their respective careers. “It is much like an investment; Balay is a safe-keep for the talents and skills of these people so that [their talents and skills] will never stagnate,” he says.

Ateneo Capoeira Club

When Tadashi Zialcita met fellow Capoeirista Mark William Uy back in 2008, they both knew they wanted to bring the little-known Brazilian martial art to the Loyola Schools. Thus, the Ateneo Capoeira Club was established.

“Our main activity throughout the school year is training in Capoeira—not just in the physical aspect, but in the musical aspect as well, through instrument and singing classes,” Tadashi, the current org president, says.

Exploring the intricacies of Brazilian culture is what member Denice Planas enjoys the most. “Playing [capoeira] makes you learn so much more than a martial art,” she says. “Capoeira dates back to the time when Africans were made slaves in Brazil, making every concept and movement of the art relevant to their history.”

It all sounds like a lot to take in, but Tadashi is quick to address that the only membership requirement is the expectation to have fun doing Capoeira: “Aspiring members do not need a background in martial arts or dance to join. Also, athleticism and flexibility are not prerequisites. In fact, one will actually gain them over the course of training.”

Some faculty members also join in the fun. Ariel Diccion of the Filipino Department and Anton Sevilla of the Philosophy Department have both trained with these Capoeiristas over the past two years and have improved significantly. In fact, the latter is on his second cord, indicating his progress in the sport.

Now that the Ateneo Capoeira Club is a part of Lions, Tadashi is hopeful that the martial art will be better promoted on campus. Who knows, maybe soon enough, Capoeira will be up to par with other popular martial arts such as Judo or Taekwondo.

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

Strategic Trading Card Society (Stacs)

They used to be known as the Wizards of Loyola.

No, not as Harry Potter fanatics, but for being fans of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering, also known as Magic or MtG. With clever tactic and a deck of cards serving as the player’s arsenal, this fantasy collectible card game has found itself a community of devoted players in campus.

This year, Org President Angelo Villasanta wants to build to a solid base for Stacs members. More strategy discussions, deck-building sessions and friendly tournaments are in store for the org. “If the community gets to know one another, things will fall into place, like [in] drafts,” says Angelo.

He also wants to emphasize giving an opportunity for new members to interact with the upperclassmen so they can mutually expand their playgroup and further develop their skills. This will also promote a stronger org bond, since three years ago, the group disappeared as upperclassmen were lost to graduation. “The problem [was that] the active members only [saw] other active members, which led to an ‘exclusive’ feel,” he explains.

Stacs is open to both beginners and experienced card players. In fact, the org’s membership also includes some students from Ateneo High and UP—and even faculty members.

“We accept anyone from any course, from any year level and from any level. We don’t have a skill level requirement,” says Angelo. “[Just] as long as one is interested in playing MtG, he or she can join.”

Photo by Sarah N. Aquino

Loyola Ultimate Disc Association (LUDA)

The first thing everyone should know is that while the sport Ultimate has been more commonly known as Frisbee, that’s not the right name for it. While Ultimate has grown in popularity over the past few years, it is often perceived as a leisure activity instead of a serious sport. This is where LUDA comes in.

“We are not just a regular sports team, but also an org of the Ateneo,” says Org President Emmanuel Pavia. “This means we don’t just practice—we try to reach out to others, especially to non-Ultimate players, to give them the opportunity to play it as well.”

While LUDA was formed just last school year, big plans are in the works to ensure that the Ateneo community knows more about the sport. Emmanuel anticipates working closely with the Intramurals Athletics Council so that Ultimate will once again be an intramurals sport. He also wishes that LUDA gets to enter three upcoming tournaments before hosting one by the end of the year.

“There are a lot of talented Ateneans who play in various teams in the Philippine Ultimate Association,” member Lyra Dietrich explains. “LUDA exposed the Ateneans who do play and enabled [the org] to begin forming Ateneo teams.”

While LUDA holds regular trainings for members to stay in shape, Emmanuel emphasizes that Ultimate is a sport for anybody—and he means it. “We have new members of all shapes and sizes. Our members come from different year levels, different courses and places in the Philippines,” he says.

Aside from the dark tan one gets after playing, Emmanuel stresses that spirit will always remain a significant component of the sport. “If you ask any Ultimate player out there, any of them would say that they value the spirit of the player much more than they value his skill. If the org could only achieve one thing every year, it would be to teach all of its members to always have good spirit.”

Photo by Tim Arafiles

Atenean Car Enthusiasts (ACE)

The name pretty much speaks for itself—ACE is the home for Autonistas, or Ateneans who have the drive for automobiles.

Formed in 2006 by Angel “Gel” Llantada, ACE is one of the first college-based car organizations in the country. It has also been recognized in Manila’s car culture with their annual Brake Check Car Show, a public car exhibit/awards show that has successfully attracted more than 1,000 spectators in past years. Plans for this year include the annual Driving Seminar and Track Day, where the org rents out a local race track and organize timed races.

One of the misconceptions about the org is the prerequisite for all members to own a car. “Whether you drive a tricked out and ready-for-show car, an old, faithful, ever-reliant one, or not even own a car… just like some of our current members, the only requirement for entry is having interest in anything automobile-related,” ACE President Kenneth Llave says.

Every Friday, the Bellarmine Hall parking area is packed with the members’ prized cars, varying in models and sizes. This is where they hold their GTs (short for Get-Togethers), where members get to catch up with others regularly. Kenneth acknowledges that these casual meet-ups established ACE’s identity as a tight-knit organization. “Be it undergraduate, graduate or alumni, [we] gather together in fellowship and celebrate [our] love for the automobile,” he says.

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

Blue Consulting Club (BCC)

Patterned after the Harvard Graduate Consulting Club, the BCC is the first and only collegiate management consulting club in the Philippines.

“We provide members with intensive training and career opportunities to work with premier consultants from established consulting firms,” Org President Marga Cantada says. “Our goal is to give them hands-on consulting experience through actual projects, and not just with outside firms, but also [with] non-government organizations and small and medium enterprises.”

BCC was founded by a group of Management Engineering majors returning from their JTA program, led by Denver Sanchez and supported by Dr. Darwin Yu of the John Gokongwei School of Management’s Finance and Accounting Department. It would be easy to assume that the org is only for the said school’s students, but that’s a misinformed assumption Marga wishes to correct. “Consulting is a career that does not favor SOM students over those from other schools. Our club is open to all Loyola Schools students because we feel that whatever skill or talent a member contributes is value added.”

All members are trained extensively through workshops, various consulting projects and personal mentorship sessions from the Institute of Management Consultants of the Philippines. “We give [BCC members] tools that are not necessarily taught inside the classroom,” Marga says.

Member Judito Tadeo appreciates the approach of BCC. “I look at the management consulting industry as a mix of all trades,” he says, comparing it to his course, where he feels compelled to take on a specialization. “Consultants should know the many aspects of a business so that they can critique, adjust and create ways to solve, for example, a finance problem case using a solution that affects operations.”

There seems to be a drive in all BCC members to make a difference. “[BCC’s] novelty is a challenge, but we will get there,” Judito says. “And I want to be part of that breakthrough.”

Photo by Ean L. Dacay

Ateneo Association of Creative Writers (WriterSkill)

While WriterSkill is the home org for Creative Writing majors, it openly extends its invitation towards anyone who shares a passion for writing. “We applaud those who enter as beginners, or those who are not as versed in writing, and who stay on. They’ve found a place where they don’t feel the pressure to rush their development,” says Org President Diego Santiago.

WriterSkill aims to provide a constructive environment for its members to hone their writing skills, regardless of skill level. To them, there’s no such thing as a “bad” or “good” writer, since the priority is more on the writer’s development.

One of the interesting novelties about the org is their newly implemented “chapter” system, through which members are randomly “sorted” into one of six chapters. An adaptation of the Hogwarts house system, the chapter system allows members to earn points for their respective chapters by attending workshops and events, by volunteering to be committee members/project heads, and by submitting their own written works.

The org also offers its members different services, such as assistance with English papers and the editing of other writing assignments. Moreover, WriterSkill explores literary genres of all sorts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama.

This year, one of WriterSkill’s biggest projects will be a sci-fi symposium. The symposium will have notable sci-fi writers as guest panelists.

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

Aperture Society (ApSoc)

In response to the rising popularity of the SLR camera, friends Rico Cruz, Miguel Santiago, Bea Samson and CK Chua created the Aperture Society a few years ago. They had a simple goal: to serve as a place where people can discuss, teach and enjoy photography.

In order to gain more exposure this year—not the kind that determines how bright a photo will turn out—ApSoc will be tying up with other organizations to offer services in documenting Loyola Schools events.

External Vice President Tonio del Rosario claims that this is his favorite part of being in the Ateneo’s only photography-oriented student org. “The photoshoots for different clients are the moments of glory for us photographers,” he says. “From the conceptualization, to carrying out the shoot, to editing and then catching a glimpse of the final photo in whatever they use it on—it really gives a great sense of accomplishment.”

A series of workshops on the various aspects of photography and exhibits are in the works for this year as well. Still, the members of ApSoc are careful not to have too many events planned—they treasure the enjoyment and fulfillment they get during photo-walks.

“Photo-walks are simply what they seem to be: we walk around and take photographs of things,” Tonio explains. “Think of it as bonding time with those who share a passion for what we do. For us, it’s clicking away!”

President Shanice Garcia encourages those who are thinking of enhancing their photography skills and are seeking to learn from some of the Ateneo’s best shutterbugs to join ApSoc.

She also brushes off the myth that a dSLR is a prerequisite for membership, since the org rents out equipment for a minimal fee. “As long as you are interested in photography, no matter what equipment or skill level you have, you’re welcome!” she says. “We love new members.”

Editor’s Note: Unaccredited orgs are open to membership all year round.

Editor’s Note: Shanice Garcia is part of The GUIDON’s Web staff.