Exemplary student leaders, organizations and projects were recognized for embodying the Ignatian ideals of service and excellence at the recently held Magis Awards.
The annual search, now on its tenth year, has been challenging the Xavier University community to engage in development projects and commit to civic purpose of their chosen fields within and outside the school campus.
“At Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, we do whole-person formation of our students, we form them in the Ignatian values of competence, conscience and commitment … or in other words, the heads, hearts and hands of our students,” said XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ in his message during the awarding ceremony on March 12.
“In many ways, we know that whole-person formation does not only happen in the classrooms, it also happens outside; in fact, it happens in the co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, in the leadership trainings we give, [and] in the spiritual training we provide,” Yap added.
Providing exemplars of laudable service, Magis Awards, according to its pioneers, “builds XU’s sense of efficacy and social responsibility. The search ensures that the path undertaken by members of the university community is geared towards educating and helping others in the context of poverty, corruption, political crisis, and other relevant social issues.”
“The diversity and depth of co-curricular and extra-curricular formation and student activities at Xavier is simply amazing and noteworthy,” Yap remarked, adding that there is a reason why the Magis Awards are being conferred around the time of the commencement exercises.
“I am very happy that we have Magis Awards which is held very close to the graduation ceremonies. In the graduation ceremonies, we really honor academic achievements and give out the Xavier diploma. However, the diploma does not tell the whole story,” he said.
“Life at Xavier University really involves not just academic excellence but achieving whole-person formation with competence, conscience and commitment,” Yap emphasized.
The XU president ended his message by expressing his gratitude to the people who have been instrumental to forming wholistic leaders. “We come together tonight because we affirm our formation with Magis Awards and to thank the faculty, formators and staff for helping, caring and guiding the students.”
“Congratulations to this year’s Magis Awardees who have given much generosity, values and much driving force to be the best they could become.”
Through the efforts of the Office of Student Affairs and the Review and Recognition Committee in partnership with Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts, National Service Training Program, University Athletics Office, Guidance and Counseling Office, and the Office of Mission and Ministry, “Magis Awards” has emerged as the university’s premier award-giving body.
Through its 10 years, the award has shown that no matter how modest the undertakings, they build hope and effect change for the better not only at XU but also in the larger community.
Here’s the complete list of Magis Awardees this year.
Category A: Project-Based Awards
1. Fr William Nicholson SJ Award for Campus Project: English Academy (XUSELICS)
2. Fr William Masterson SJ Award for Community Project: Paglambo (XU JPIA)
3. Fr Francisco Madigan SJ Award for New Project: Philosophy Discourse (Ateneo Philosophy Club)
4. San Pedro Calungsod Best NSTP Community-Based Area Work: Voters’ Education Campaign (NSTP-YC and XA)
5. San Pedro Calungsod Best NSTP School-Based Area Work: Scouting Program (NSTP-ED)
6. Fr Francisco Demetrio SJ Award for Culture and Arts Project: Over A Cup of Coffee, A Colorful Talk with the Writers (XELLO)
Category B: Organization Awards
1. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Outstanding College Council: Association of the College of Engineering Students (ACES)
2. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Outstanding Co-Curricular Organization: Ateneo Diplomatic Corps (ADC)
3. Ignatius of Loyola Award for Outstanding Extra-Curricular Organization: Ateneo Rover Circle (ARC)
Category C: Individual Awards
1. AMDG Award for Outstanding Student Leader: Devin Cabatingan (Ateneo Diplomatic Corps)
2. San Pedro Calungsod Award for Outstanding NSTP Leader: Blanche Bhernise Dungog (NSTP-YC)
3. St Jean de Brebeuf Athletes of the Year Award: Cori Liwan (Karatedo) and Ana Monica Tan (Taekwondo)
4. Fr Antonio Cuna SJ Award for Outstanding Peer Facilitator: Mary Mae Pelesco (BS Psychology 4)
5. Fr Luigi Moggi SJ Award for Outstanding Moderator: Ismael Salarda (Ateneo Rover Circle)
6. Fr George Hofilena SJ Award for Outstanding Coach: Jessica Esparrago (Karatedo)
7. Fr James TG Hayes SJ Dux Gregis Award: Jaya Minorca Bautista (Loyola Debate Cup)
Individual/ Team Awards
1. Lovie Leannie L Andaling
Delegate, Philippine Model Congress 2015
Philippine Model Congress / Senate of the Philippines
19 October 2015, Pasay City
2. Justin John A Gabor
Silver Medalist, 20th University Games – Karatedo
UNIGAMES Inc
26 October 2015, University of St La Salle
3. Cori Liwan
Over-all Champion, Karatedo / Gold Medalist, Individual Kumite
Silver Medalist, Individual Kata / Gold Medalist, Team Kata / Silver Medalist, Team Kumite
University Games
27 October 2015, Bacolod City
4. Adzhar Jadda Madjid
Delegate, Global Start-up Youth ASEAN and ASEAN Entrepreneurship Summit
Malaysia Ministry of Finance and Startup Malaysia.Org
21 March 2015, Malaysia
Publicity Peace Ambassador
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL)
International peace Youth Group
20 September 2015
5. Joseph Roldan Z Tagalog
Delegate, Future Bridging Leaders Program
Asian Institute of Management
June to October 2015, Makati City
6. Florence S Velasco
Delegate, 13th AmCham Business Leadership Program
The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc
18 April 2015, New World Hotel, Makati City
7. Agnes Isabelle O Adviento, Krishia Urielle T Galanida, and Mhenard Louie M Ubay-ubay
Delegates, Ateneo Student Leaders Assembly (ASLA)
Ateneo de Manila University / 9 January 2016, Quezon City
8. Joan Jane Edulsa and Ruvie Jane Cugay
Over-all Champion, Karatedo
University Games
27 October 2015, Bacolod City
9. Reuvynna Mae Racho, Christelle Dionne Flores, Mary Charmin Zambas, and Rodyard Camarin (Videnda)
2nd Place, 9th Business Idea and Development Award
Philippine Chamber of Commerce
26 October 2015, Pasay City
10. Kimberly C Condeza, Roxanne G Velarde, Nico Jan F Silon, Lloyd Martin P Luyao, and Eileen Florence S Velasco (SMART TRAP)
3rd Place, 9th Search for the Business Idea and Development Award
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
28 October 2015, Pasay City
11. Chrisus Paolo Gabor, Paola Luz Garrido, Kenneth Omandam, Jigo Racaza, Joseph Roldan Tagalog, and Roxanne Velarde
Semi-Finalist, 2015 PANAnaw Awards,
Philippine Association of National Advertisers Foundation
31 August 2015
Organization Awards
1. Junior Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers
2015 Most Outstanding JPSME Student Chapter
Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers
23 October 2015, Pasay City
2. The Xavier Stage
Performance Acceptance, PASINAYA 2016
Cultural Center of the Philippines
6 to 7 February 2016, Pasay City
3. Xavier University Junior Marketing Association
Academic Project of the Year, Marketista Awards
Junior Marketing Association of the Year, AGORA Youth Awards
Philippine Marketing Association and Philippine Junior Marketing Association
7 March 2015