XAVIER ATENEO. Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan hails remarkable student leaders, orgnizations, and projects at the 2017 Magis Awards. Pictured here are (from left to right) XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, VP for mission and ministry Irene Guitarte, Student Activities and Leadership Development head Richel Petalcurin, Office of Student Affairs director Ivanell Subrabas, and 2017 AMDG Award for Outstanding Student Leader Paul Christian Dalagan.
Text by Stephen Pedroza | Photos by Rico Magallona
On a glitzy night of the 25th of March 2017, outstanding student leaders, organizations, and projects were recognized for embodying the Ignatian ideals of service and excellence at the 11th Magis Awards.
The annual search poses a challenge to the Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan community to engage in development projects and commit to the civic purpose of their chosen fields within and outside the school campus.
“Magis is a favorite word of ours. If you ask any Xavier Ateneo graduate, he/she will always remember this keyword — Magis. ... This is what Jesuit education means," said XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ in his message during the awarding ceremony at the Magis Roof Deck.
“Magis means more. But it does not imply comparison with others or a measurement of absolute standards, but rather, it is the fullest possible development of each person's capacity in each stage of life,” he added.
Through providing exemplars of laudable service, XU’s sense of efficacy and social responsibility is being celebrated and rippled. 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.
“This celebration we have tonight is really not to compare x and y or so and so or who is better and who is worse. Rather, it means the fullest possible development of the person's capacities, skills, and talents in whatever area. ... It is really becoming the best that we are capable of being. We celebrate all these leaders, who are already winners tonight because they have developed their potentials,” the XU president shared.
“Magis is a way of life. I hope that we are always reminded, especially the graduates, to bring with you that spirit of Magis, of trying to develop your potentials.”
Guest speaker Jana Jean Dacubor, in her speech, also inspired the student leaders with her stories and lessons from her years of working with Lumad communities and other marginalized sectors.
GO TO THE PERIPHERIES. Guest speaker Jana Jean Dacubor tells the student leaders to go to the peripheries where the needs are greater and make a difference one community at a time.
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.
Paul Christian Dalagan (BSCE), 2017 AMDG Award for Outstanding Student Leader, expressed his gratitude to the people and organizations who have become part of his leadership journey: “Thank you so much. Honestly, I did not expect to have this. I would like to thank first, the Ateneo School for Upcoming Leaders for equipping me with the leaderships skills and Ignatian principles. Also I’d like to thank the Central Student Government, especially to Edison Lacea (outgoing CSG president) … also to One CDO Alliance and to XU Engineering Resource Center.”
Through its 11 years, the recognition 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.
“This is not just a celebration of victory, but also of failures — failures of individuals, who despite having experienced them, still go on and live their lives. This is for all of you,” Dalagan added. ∎
WHAT MAGIS MEANS. XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ says: “Magis is a way of life. I hope that we are always reminded, especially the graduates, to bring with you that spirit of Magis, of trying to develop your potentials.”
Here’s the complete list of Magis Awardees this year:
Category A: Project-Based Awards
Fr William Nicholson SJ Award for Campus Project: Sign Language Academy (SPEDSOC)
Fr William Masterson SJ Award for Community Project: I Save (ASAGE)
Fr Francisco Madigan SJ Award for New Project: Ligsok ALS Night School (TG)
San Pedro Calungsod Award for Best NSTP School-Based Area Work: Literacy Training Service (NSTP N)
San Pedro Calungsod Award for Best NSTP Community-Based Area Work: Solid Waste Management (NSTP F1)
Category B: Organization Awards
Ignatius of Loyola Award for Outstanding Extra-Curricular Organization: XU Red Cross Youth (XURCY)
Ignatius of Loyola Award for Outstanding Co-Curricular Organization: Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA)
Ignatius of Loyola Award for Outstanding College Council: Teachers’ Guild (TG)
Category C: Individual Awards
AMDG Award for Outstanding Student Leader: Paul Christian Dalagan (BSCE)
San Pedro Calungsod Award for NSTP Outstanding Team Leader: Philline Marie Felicilda
Fr Luigi Moggi SJ Award for Outstanding Peer Facilitator: Anthea Vivienne Mondaya Budiongan (BS Psyc 4)
Fr Luigi Moggi SJ Award for Outstanding Moderators: Jerelyn Medalla (ASAGE) and Junefel Colonia (TG)
Fr James TG Hayes SJ Dux Gregis Award: Joseph Roldan Tagalog
Individual/ Team Awards
Edison S Lacea
Delegate, Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit
Aboitiz Equity Ventures
3-5 November 2016, Cebu City
Delegate, First ASEAN University Student Council Union Conference (JENESYS)
National Youth Commision
13-21 March 2017, Japan
Delegate, AMCHAM Business Leadership Program
American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
1-10 April 2016
Delegate, Atneo Student Leaders Assembly
Ateneo de Manila University Sanggunian
4-8 January 2017
Diane Kaye Elizondo, Joy Boglosa
Delegates, Ateneo Student Leaders Assembly
Ateneo de Manila University Sanggunian
4-8 January 2017
Princess Cassion
1st Place, Unilever Business Week 2016 Concept Creation
Unilever Philippines, Inc
26 April 2016, Manila City
Delegate, Nestle MILE 2016
Nestle Philippines, Inc
26-28 October 2016, Makati City
Grand Champion, Best Case Presentation Award
Nestle MILE 2016, Nestle Philippines, Inc
26-28 October 2016, Makati City
Finalist, Search for the Best Business Idea and Development Award 2016
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
27 September 2016, Taguig City
Michael banjo Poblete, Maria Patricia Angela Damasing, Jan Muriel Navarro, Maya Louise Asuero, and Angelo Leandro Chan
2nd Place, Primus Young Leaders Tourney Video Making Contest
5th Philippine I Transform Young Leaders Convention
22-26 September, 2016, Baguio City
Janniko Arvi Gopez
Delegate, 19th Ayala Young Leaders Congress
Ayala Foundation, Inc
7-10 February 2017, Batangas
Ram Paolo Daan
2016 Most Outstanding Unified JPSME President
Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers
21 October 2016, Pasay City
Justin John Gabor, Nick Austin Mistula, Daniel Augustus Lim, Matthew Sebastian Ong, and Juan Rodolfo Villaluz
Silver Medalist, 2nd Augusto Go Karate Championship Team Kumite Black Belt (Senior Division)
Japan Karate Association – Asia Pilipinas Inc.
23 September 2016, Cebu City
Agnes Adviento, Lyrashane Batao, Jasmin Lumacad, Kenneth Omandam, Clint Paolo Puertas, Jigo Racaza, and Keren TadeM
Semi-Finalist, 2016 PANAnaw Awards, 17th PANAF IMC Students’ Competition
Philippine Association of National Advertisers Foundation
Kathleen Suarez
Best Team Proposal (Chuck Knorris), Unilever Business Week 2016 Supply Chain Module
27 April 2016, Manila
Kathleen Suarez, Kishan Sigh Rajput, Xiarah Nina Saldua, and Carissekho Blaise Longakit
2nd Runner Up ICFC Elimination Round Northern Mindanao Chapter
CFA Institute
John Albert Cañas
Champion, Individual Kata (Male Purple Belt)
2nd Atty Augusto W Go Invitational Karate Championship
23 September 2016, Cebu City
Daniel Augustus V Lim
Silver Medalist, Individual Kumite Brown Belt
2nd Atty Augusto W Go Invitational Karate Championship
23 September 2016, Cebu City
Maria Karlene Shawn Cabaraban, Nessa Buna, and Shaira Del Carmen
Bronze Medalist, Team Kata Brown Belt
2nd Atty Augusto W Go Invitational Karate Championship
23 September 2016, Cebu City
Arnielf Joseph Fuentes
Silver Medalist, Individual Kata Blue Belt
2nd Atty Augusto W Go Invitational Karate Championship
23 September 2016, Cebu City
Danille Van Ayson
Delegate, ROTC Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) program
15-20 November 2016, Guam, USA
Elvin John Baal
Delegate, 8th ARCen for the National ROTC Summit and PMA Tour
Armed Forces of the Philippines
9-12 December 2016, Baguio City
Allan C Waga Jr
Finalist, ROTC-AFP Cadet of the Year
Armed Forces of the Philippines
21 November 2016, Quezon City
Teachers’ Guild
Youth Catalyst Project Grantee, 5th Philippine I Transform! Young Leaders Convention
Youth Lead Philippines, 22-26 September 2016, Baguio City
The Xavier Stage
Performance Acceptance, Likhandula International Arts Exchange and Collaboration
The Arts Research and Training Institute in Southern Tagalog Incorporated (ARTIST, Inc)
1-4 March 2017, Laguna
XU Glee Club
Champion, Himig Handog Chorale Competition
Tagum City Musikahan Festival
1 March 2017, Tagum City
STREAMS-Pathways to Higher Education
Finalist, Global Youth Summit
Global Peace Foundation
XU-PAF ROTC
2016 AFP ROTC Unit of the Year
Armed Forces of the Philippines, 17 September 2016, Quezon City
PAF Department of Air Science and Tactics Unit of the Year
Philippine Air Force
27 June 2016, Pasay City