Blunited for Others - Ateneo Alumni Homecoming 2013

Singing the Alma Mater Song

The Ateneo High School Batch 1988 set high targets for this year's annual Ateneo Homecoming and their goal is to raise 8.8 Million Pesos to give back to the Ateneo. Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Jett Villarin told their batch "Are you crazy?" Eventually come December 7, Fr. Jett, with a big smile on his face told AHS 1988 "Thank You for being Crazy!" The Ateneo High School batch 1988 was excited for this year's homecoming because they not only reached their goal but helped a lot in the process.  

The check posted by Caloy Coronel in his FB account

Ateneo High School Batch 1988 homecoming head, Alejandro "AL" Neri thanked his wonderful batch mates as he said " That however good your leaders are, if your followers do not cooperate you wont reach your goal!" This statement is a testament to the batch's resiliency as they eventually donated that amount together with other batches that donated millions to the Ateneo. Their beneficiaries include the Tulong-Dunong perpetuity fund which will help TD Scholars with their miscellaneous expenses, the P.A.G.S.I Ateneo HS Teacher's fund for the development and assistance of AHS teachers past and present that they may continue to learn, educate and inspire generations of Ateneans, the Jesuit Aged and infirm fund to help our beloved Jesuits in their twilight years and the Yolanda victims.

Al Neri thanking his batchmates

BLUNITED for others. This year's homecoming was all about coming back to the place where it all started for most of us. For starters the entrance fee was very affordable at P 88.00! As Al Neri said it they wanted their homecoming to be intrusive rather than exclusive as the venue was packed not only by Batch 88 but by other Jubilarians and non-Jubilarians as well. The event was presented by the San Miguel Corporation while lots of other sponsors pitched in to help out the event.

And the winner is....

The event had so many highlights. Besides the bountiful donations, there were so many raffle items for grabs.  Imagine winning either and HTC or Lenovo phone. At the same time, would you want to own one of the three Beer Below Zero Freezers that were up for grabs. The highlight of the raffle was the Toyota GT-86 which at first was the centerpiece of the One Big Shot but unfortunately the 20 guys who got picked to take the shot never got the shot in. Eventually someone was picked at the end of the event to win the other Toyota GT-86.

Another highlight of the night were the entertainers that performed. Ateneo High School Batch 1963 took us to the music of the 60's with Titus Santiago leading his group. Next in line was the 70's music of AHS 1973 which was led by popular singer and songwriter Joey Ayala. These two bands rocked the crowd which was eventually mellowed down by the sentimental number of College 73 Jubilarians Jim Paredes and Boboy Garrovillo who sang the Awit ng Barkada song together with their original Apo Hiking Society barkada.  Then came the guest bands, the new Freestyle band that sang cover songs,  the SIDE A band and the night was capped off by the energetic 80's performance of Juan Miguel Salvador.

Noli Lorenzana said to Joey G. 

"Tell Me!"

For me, being asked to be one of the hosts of the Homecoming is again an honor. Joining me were ABS-CBN Umagang Kay Ganda host Andrei Felix, Ateneo courtside reporter  Selina Dagdag and former Lady Booter and now a budding ABS-CBN Talent, Tata Garcia-Long.  It was a blast being a part of this year's homecoming. I am just proud of the accomplishments of Batch 1988 and I hope that there will be more blessings to come Ateneo's way. Blunited was really a great way to come back home to the Ateneo.

Selina Dagdag, Andrei Felix, Tata Garcia-Long

and yours truly - BLUNITED as one!

Ateneo Alumni Homecoming 2008

"Ang Maglingkod ng buong Dangal at Galing (AMDG)" This was the battlecry of the 2008 Ateneo Alumni homecoming that was held at the Ateneo High School covered courts. Remembering the latin phrase Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (for the greater glory of God) certainly gave the jubilarians something to be happy about as the members of the High School 1983 gamely hosted the event which has so many high points. I will just enumerate them through the pictures you will see here.

One of this year's Golden Jubilarians is High School batch 1958. Led by one of the most visible comedy duos in the 70's 80's and 90's, this batch had the zany champoy tandem of Subas Herrero and Noel Trinidad. Since they were given the chance to perform, Noel called their whole batch on stage and to quote him, he said that this maybe the last time they will be performing as a batch since most probably a lot of them won't be around by their 75th Anniversary since they will most probably be in a cool place with some batchmates in a much hotter place.


To lead them in their singing is Noel's long time buddy Subas Herrero who came in a wheel chair. For Subas, the event is something not to be missed as he believed that spending time with his Ateneo friends is something worth cherishing forever. The batch sang "Those were the days my friend.." which is very fitting since they kinda remembered all the happy days they shared which was mostly in the Ateneo.


At one part of the program all the jubilarian batches were called to cheer and share ONE BIG FIGHT with the hosts. The host batch together with the help of the current crop of Blue Babble Battalion band members drummed away the beat of One big fight as the one unifying essence of being an Atenean was chanted by everyone in the covered courts. As fitting finale, the Blue Babble Battalion of Batch 1983 led by Mike Ruivivar took centerstage to call the Ateneo cheers they have been cheering the past 25 years. I remember seeing these guys perform during the halftime games back in the 80's and it was quite funny to see them back although a lot had a hard time bending during the cheers. Nevertheless it was again another nostalgic moment.


One of the most popular stories passed on batch after batch was how the Ateneo HS 1979-1980 1A class of Mr. Onofre Pagsanghan came to compose the song Hindi Kita Malilimutan. As narrated to us though an AVP, Mr. Pagsi started the ball rolling by getting a line from Isaiah 49 and challenging the class to add on to the lyrics. Two of the most celebrated Ateneo musicians happen to come from that class, Norman Agatep and Manoling Francisco who is now a revered Jesuit Priest. Time and again the song won numerous awards and until now it is still one of the most popular songs to come out of the Ateneo, a song written by first year students. TO immortalize the song, the 1A class of 1979-1980 led by Norman and Mano sang the song to the audience.

The formal hostilities ended when the torch to host the homecoming was now passed to the next batch, High School 1984. This batch has a big task ahead of them since they will be hosting the Alumni Homecoming which is Sesquicentennial batch. Ronald Ventura accepted the torch together with batchmates.

A fitting ending to the event was the singing of the Song for Mary which ended with a confetti machine pelting half of the covered courts with lots of silver confetti. Afterwards the bands took centerstage to bring the music of the 1980's into the scene. Most notable was the performance of a HS jubilarian who was known in the performing arts and came out to sing Karma Chameleon dressed up like Boy George, and that HS 1983 Jubilarian is none other than Louie Heredia.

Last year's Grade School jubilarians were there to witness one of many torch passings so that by 2011 they will be ready to host this very prestigious event.

For my batch, the Grade School Silver Jubilarians, its a pity that only a few of us were there. I n this picture is AA Aquino, AA Legarda, Martin Bautista, John Tanjangco, Heaven Torres and Dong Feliciano. I also saw Naresh Ramnani and Lloyd Anastacio. Till next year see you all!