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NEWS
FABILIOH! By JAIME K PIMENTEL WHEN five young Ateneo alumni turned up at the Emerton Leisure Centre's indoor basketball court last week, the EagesBlue began to form the first authentic Ateneo Australia Blue Eagles basketball team. The ''first five'' were Chino Audencial, Fidel Fernando, Andro Lopez, Michael Almario and Richard de Guzman. The team immediately warmed up with round-robins, practice shooting, a three-on-three before scrimmaging against Marco Selorio's weel-oiled Filipino NSW team for 10 minutes. The Eagles' first-five looked good on all departments ~ shooting, rebounds and speed. Only lacking was good team coordination, which was understandable considering this was the players' first scrimmage together. Showing remarkable dominance in the rebounds was Fernando who, at 6ft and plays centre but is not going to be tallest of the Eagles. Joaquin Reyes, who was not present but indicated he would play during a dinner-meeting a week earlier, stands 6tf 3in. Audencial stood out as leader of the pack, enough to be appointed interim team captain, with Fernando his co-captain. Kate Andres was introduced as team manager, and interim coach Jimmy Pimentel informated the team that a permanet coach would soon be named, with Joey Loyzaga or Alex Araneta to be asked to accept coaching durites. The team is scheduled to train once a week during May, and then twice a week before its first official game against La Salle alumni at the inaugural Kalayaan Sports Festival in June. Selorio, who has been responsible for discovering Ateneo basketball players in the Sydney area, said more Ateneans will be coming forward to join the team in the weeks to come. At the moment, the Ateneo Australia Blue Eagles look like comprising a team of eight young players. This is a far cry from those days when the AAA could only muster five oldies agedt between 40 years and 60 years of age against La Salle's young Archers. # _________________________________________ Total tally
of City-to-Surf
''This amounted to around $3,500,'' Mr Perez said. ''Westpac will pay this electronically directly to the Gawad Kalinga bank account towards the end of March 2008,'' Mr Perez said. The overall amount raised, including funds raised directly by other AAA members, was a whopping $14,600. ''I was targeting to raise $32,000 ~ which represented $1 for every step that my wife Pilar and I would have taken for the course,'' Mr Perez said. ''Unfortunately, I only raised around $14,600. I missed out on the $10,000 prize to the charity of the individual that raised the most at the event. I think I only finished in fourth place.'' With the exception of Westpac's $3,500 donation, all the other monies should have been credited to the Gawad kalinga bank account, as these donations were paid via credit card of the individual donor, Mr Perez said. The breakdown was as follows: 1. Westpac Bank Matching Gifts Program (24%) - $3,500 ~ although the total donations given by Westpac employees was around $5,000. ''I was only sent $3,500 worth of receipts by these employees,'' Mr Perez said. ''I'm not sure if they would have claimed their donation directly themselves from the Westpac Matching Gifts Program separately.'' 2. Ateneo Alumni Australia members (11%) - $1,600 3. Mr Perez's friends at Westpac (34%) - $5,000 4. Mr Perez's other friends and relatives and friends of friends (31%) ~ $4,500 (including my relatives and friends overseas). The Ateneo Alumni donation comprised 12 individual credit card donations broken down as follows: Chito Perez - $500, Ateneo Alumni - $300 (from Kate Andres); Perry Cecilio - $150, Kate Andres - $100, Ronnie Dizon - $100, Vangie Leones - $100; Jimmy Pimentel - $100, Mario Almario - $50, Mike Armea - $50, Jomark Sto Domingo - $50, Obet Dionisio - $25, Clara Suasin - $25, In summary (count, amount, percentage): AAA donations (12) $1,600 (11%), donations from non AAA members (174) $13,000 89%. Total (186) $14,600 (100%). ''I think the reason there was no recognition of the Ateneo Alumni Australia's contribution at the last presentation by GK with Tony Meloto is because GK did not know how much was donated by AAA,'' Mr Perez said. ''The breakdown should clarify this and all the other well-meaning questions that were being asked.'' This year, Mike Armea is heading the EaglesBlue fund raising committee. ''And with the enthusiasm I've seen from him, I'm sure he'll beat any other previous fund raising targets we've had in the past,'' Mr Perez said. ''We will raise funds for GK and other worthy causes, subject to the board's approval. ''In last year's event, only 12 members donated funds to Gawad Kalinga. This represented 15% of our members. If we are to financially help the less fortunate this year, we will all need to pitch in as our individual circumstances dictate. # _________________________________________
Homecoming,
package drive By JAIME K PIMENTEL The EaglesBlue and their families held a Christmas reunion at Loyola Senior High School campus in Mount Druitt on Sunday, December 9, followed by a Christmas Package Drive presentation and turnover of the club presidency.
Ms Andres made a parting plea to members to use donations from the Sydney City To Surf Run appeal towards building an 'EaglesBlue Village' of 20 homes for poor families in Real,Quezon, through the Gawad Kalinga project.
A further small donation of $100 was presented to Gawad Kalinga's Australian representative Marcy Mission, who is also a member of the AAA, by Filipino boxers Ranee Ganoy and Walrito Paderna from the Bohol Boxing Stable in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool where nine Filipino boxers reside on temporary sports visas as they campaign in Australia for a year or more. Event organiser Warphy Sarande, liturgy coordinator Obet Dionisio, glee club choir moderator Mading Jalosjos, accompanist Alex Sarmiento, food coordinator Rudy Severino, reception Wilbur Redublado, invitations Obet Dionisio and Chito Perez. Raul and Arlene Amor donated a Christmas hamper, Kate Andres donated a wine gift; Chito, Pilar and Mark Perez were the family offerrors, Julie Nunez the commentator commentator, and Jeremy de la Paz did the candle-lighting duties. Dino Crescini and Jimmy Pimentel organised the Christmas package drive with the assistance of Leonie and Ella Martirez of Austral Cargo for delivery of the gift packages to the families of the boxers in Mindanao and Cebu. Every member and guest came with Christmas packages of clean used clothing for the boxers' families and special Filipino dishes for the Christmas luncheon. Warphy Sarande, who undertook both the organisation and management of the event, has been on a scholarhip in Sydney under AusAid and will return to the Philippines soon. He was given a warm vote of appreciation by the EaglesBlue. # PICTURES: Top, EaglesBlue and their families recite the Our Father at the Loyola campus chapel during Mass. Right, Father Iain Radvan and acolyte Obet Dionisio lead prayers in front of the altar. Left, boxers' representatives Ranee Ganoy and Walrito Paderna (centre) receive Christmas packaage drive clothes donations from members of the AAA as Leonie and Ella Martirez of Austral Cargo offer boxes to deliver the donations to nine boxers' families in Mindanao and Cebu free of charge. Looking on at left is Dino Crescini, Philippine Tribune editor-publisher who coordinated the delivery arrangement. Bottom right is Marcy Mission receiving a cash donation from boxers Ranee Ganoy and Walrito Paderna as president Kate Andres looks on. ___________________________________________________ Alumni
conquer city By JAIME K PIMENTEL The 2007 Sydney City To Surf fun run on Sunday, August 12, was the first involving an Ateneo Alumni Australia bid to raise funds for Gawad Kalinga. AAA president-elect Chito Perez, and wife Pilar, led the way to finishing the course with an impressive target of $38,000 through his bank employer Westpac. I was the second member of the team and it was my third race in more than 36 years of the event, but this time around I had something special to run for: Gawad Kalinga. If I finished, $50 would go into a pot to build a home for a poor family in the Philippines. And I had two Filipino boxers ~ welterweight champion Ranee Ganoy and junior-lightweight Walrito Paderna ~ who would run with me to raise $25 each for the same charity. The day before, I had emailed Chito ~ at the time he had already raised a whopping $17,000 for Gawad Kalinga to lead the donors list ~ about a meeting place at the steps of Sydney Town Hall. But our lines must have been crossed because we didn't meet there, and we didn't see each other during the entire event. The starting area on Park Street was in carnival mode when we arrived: Girls in colourful tights and funny hats, mums with strollers, patients on wheelchairs, corporate types in tracksuits, school teams, Borat in his undies, gay couples, exhibitionists and, of course, me wearing a royal-blue T-shirt with 'Ateneo Alumni Australia' emblazoned across the chest and the boxers. We were way in the back of the pack on Elizabeth and Park streets when the starting horn tooted at 9am sharp. It took another 15 minutes before our batch of about 2,000 runners moved forward like a tidal wave onto William Street. We jogged proudly ala-Rocky Balboa, of the fictional boxing hit movie as we headed down towards the tunnel. _________________________________________ St Ignatius
day marked Perez elected new AAA president By JAIME K PIMENTEL Eaglesblue celebrated the feast of St Ignatius Loyola with a Mass and lunch last Sunday, July 29 ~ the actual feast was on July 31 ~ at the Loyola College campus in Mount Druitt.
The Mass and celebration organisation was headed by Ronnie Dizon and supported by Obet Dionisio and Kate Andres, who took the opportunity to call an election of the group's next president. The Blue and White Glee Club sang church songs in its first performance this year after more than a year's absence. Elected unanimously and unopposed was Chito Perez, of Ateneo de Zamboanga and Ateneo de Manila. Perez is now senior project manager in Sydney for Westpac banking Corporation. The group also decided to incorporate next year, and on the official name of 'Ateneo Alumni Australia Inc. Although he arrived in Australia as a migrant in 1981, Perez joined EaglesBlue only last year but immediately demonstrated his true spirit by actively taking part in the group's activities: he was there to cheer the bowling team against La Salle this year, he joined the tennis team, inspire debate and discussions in the group email, and is now leading an Ateneo alumni squad to run the annual City-To-Surf race on Sunday, August 12. The group's participation at the City-To-Surf aims to raise more than $10,000 for the Gawad Kalinga project in the Philippines. # Picture above shows scenes during Mass. At right is outgong president Kate Andres congratulating incoming president Chito Perez at the luncheon following Mass as Loyola College, Mount Druitt. ____________________________________________ Plea for
accommodation By JAIME K PIMENTEL
In an email, Fr Ocampo (pictured) said in part: 'Hello from the Ateneo de Davao. Thanks for your email and your plan to sound out via your website your friends who may be willing to extend hospitality to some of our Ateneans ~ young alumni or still students ~ who may have enough saved to fulfil their dream of participating in a World Youth Day, this time in Sydney, Australia, your city. 'I am thinking more of starting with Ateneo de Davao alumni or Davaowenyos who are in Sydney. From my end, I plan to find out estimated airline rates, it will surely be different by 2008, from Davao to Singapore via SilkAir, Singapore to Sydney via Singapore Air or Qantas, and post the data in a bulletin first to our students and later to our young alumni and alumnae. 'Thinking of a delegation of about 20 young Ateneans and 3 chaperons who are either Jesuits or University staff or faculty. 'Many thanks for all your help in lending us a hand. Many of our students are not wealthy, and so will need time to save enough by July 2008. 'God bless you and your family and all the Ateneans of Sydney.' # ________________________________________ Alumni tender
dinner By ROBERTO 'Obet' DIONISIO The Ateneo Alumni Australia tendered a dinner for Tony Meloto, founder of Gawad Kalinga and an Ateneo alumnus, at the Corregidor restaurant in Rooty Hill, on Monday, May 14, in what was one of the most well-attended gatherings of alumni in Australia so far. Noteworthy was the attendance of new alumni members such as Arlene Amor, Michael Armea, Alric Bulseco, Mading Jalosjos, Al Montecillo, Mia Pelayo, Victor del Prado jr, Wilbur Redublado, Jess Diaz and Denis Reyes.
The following spouses of some members were also welcomed during the occasion: Raul Amor, Anton Andres, Rina Armea, Ana Bulseco, Cecile Cecilio, Judy Enriquez, Tere Garcia, Michelle Mallari, Ellen Pan, Sonia Pangilinan, Ruth Reyes, and Romynne Sto Domingo. Among the guests were Joe Josue, and Lina Josue. Kudos go to the regular members who were present during group's ealier event and found time to attend the dinner function for Mr Meloto, among whom were Mario Almario, Kate Roc Andres, Cesar Bigornia, Perry Cecilio, Dino Crescini, Obet Dionisio, Ronnie Dizon, Perry Enriquez, Chris Pangilinian, Chito Perez, Fely Perez, Carlos Perez, Jomark Sto Domingo, and Laurence Valenzuela. The night went on as per program, thanks to the emcee Dino Crescini, who also led in the singing of several Ateneo songs. Current President Kate Roc Andres started the evening by welcoming alumni, their spouses, and guests. This was followed by a prayer of 'Grace Before Meals' lead by Obet Dionisio. Immediately after came introductions by members. New alumni member and leader of Gawad Kalinga Australia, Denis Reyes, introduced of the guest of honour. Mr Meloto delivered an inspirational speech that was loudly applauded. After the speech, several questions were fielded by members and guests during an open forum with Mr Almario as moderator. A 'Special Recognition Award' was presented to Mr Meloto by president Kate Andres, assisted by the first AAAA president Cesar Bigornia. From the group of emerging young bloods, Ms Valenzuela, Ms Pelayo, and Mr del Prado manned the reception table, together with older members Mr Dizon and Mr Dionisio as headman of the reception committee. Special mention is given to Wilbur Redublado who came by train all the way from Wollonggong, and who together with Mr del Prado undertook the responsibilities of official photographers. Commendations go to Ms Valenzuela and Ms Pelayo who handled the collections and accounting of the money. A separate financial report is now being undertaken. By all accounts, everybody enjoyed the evening and looking forward to the next alumni affair. # PICTURE:
Mr Meloto accepts a 'Special Recognition Award' from Ms Andres, centre,
and Mr Bigornia. __________________________________
Australian students
The Australians met counterparts at the Ateneo high school and St Joseph's high school in Kiangan, Ifugao, under an Exchange and Immersion Experience program. They also played sports and held spiritual interaction sessions with prisoners of the Philippines' national penitentiary in Muntinlupa south of Manila, assisted in the building and painting of houses at the Gawad Kalinga project in Payatas, and stayed at homes of economically disadvantaged families in Muntinlupa and Payatas. The exchange program was initiated by St Aloysius College rector Father Ross Jones SJ (pictured, top right) and supervised by the Jesuits, who coordinated with Philippine schools. The visiting party of eleven Year-11 (4th year high school) students participated in a number of educational activities conducted in various areas of Luzon for four weeks. Consul General Lazaro welcomed the opportunity for more visits to the Philippines of Australian students as she congratulated the returning Australians. "The example that has been set by Father Jones and St Aloysius College is commendable, as this encourages a healthy exchange of experiences, and enriches the inter-cultural dialogue and understanding between Filipinos and Australians," she said. "It is our hope that this be continued and emulated by others." # |
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EaglesBlue
(AAA) president Chito Perez, pictured, submitted to Westpac management
recently complete receipts from colleagues at Westpac who supported
him at the 2007 Sydney City-To-Surf fun-run with donations to Gawad
Kalinga (GK) by credit card transfers through the City to Surf website.
About
20 members attended the celebration, which started off with Mass, officiated
by Father Iain Radvan, in the chapel and continued with a luncheon and
presentation at the cafeteria. Outgoing president Kate Andres passed
the baton to Chito Perez, who was voted president during the group's
St Ignatius Day celebrations last July. 
Mr
Perez pledged to set up an activity program for his term, and supported
Ms Andres' call to use a $16,000 donation he raised in the City To Surf
toward building an EaglesBlue Village in Real. 
Active
participants at the Mass were: acolyte Obet Dionisio, first reader Mario
Almario, responsorial psalms reader Deborah de la Paz, second reader
Wilbur Redublado, prayers for the faithful reader Rudy Severino, communision
ministers Ronnie Dizon and Dino Crescini. Father Iain Radvan was the
Mass celebrant. 
More
that 40 alumni/ae from Jesuit schools and relatives and friends celebrated
Mass in the college chapel followed by lunch at the school canteen.
Mass was officiated by Father Iain Radvan SJ, whose homily touched on
the early life of St Ignatius ~ first as a soldier then as student priest
and then founder of the Society of Jesus. 
The
Ateneo de Davao alumni director Father Renato Ocampo has issued a call
to Jesuit schools alumni in Sydney to help provide accommodation for
some of his school's alumni/ae during the 2008 World Youth Day next
year.
Current
alumni members who did not attend the last alumni get-together set aside
their heavy schedules, came and spent time with their fellow Ateneans.
Among these were Arnul Pan and Mike Garcia of Philippine Air Lines,
Noel Mallari, and Clara Suasin. 
Sydney's
St Aloysius College students returned recently from a working visit
to Loyola Heights' Ateneo de Manila and were duly congratulated on their
return by Philippine consul general Maria Teresa Lazaro at the campus
in the North Sydney suburb of Milson's Point.