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Kamsahamnida

One night last year, I remember I was among a crowd covering the wet ground infront of Seoul city hall in South Korea. The Gracias Choir performed this song which very well said what that night was all about and fittingly culminated the IYF World Camp 2011. That night, under the rain, my new friends and I said our goodbyes. And now, it's been a year since I took part in the event. Happy reminiscing, participants in the IYF World Camp 2011.

Perhaps, for many of us who joined the 2011 IYF World Camp in Korea - whatever our motivation was, it is grateful to say that our life has never been the same after the camp. Our individual and common experiences, and personal reflections may have changed us in one way or another, whether in simple or significant terms. Who knows, some may truly had a 'change of heart' in different depths and perspectives on life and spirituality. This personal impact of the event may not necessarily have been brought about by the formal talks or the tourism value of the event, but by the meaningful interactions during the camp and the relationships formed and nurtured after. I have nothing to say but kamsahamnida!

Dare to be A-HERO: The Dugong Atenista Challenge

The success of Dugong Atenista program during its first five years presents to the Ateneo community messages of inspiration and challenge this new school year. First, the 1,835 donations the past half-a-decade exhibit the Ateneans’ loving response to the call for ‘ordinary heroism’. Second, the growing number of beneficiaries in the University and the external community suggests that this life-saving program needs to be sustained.

Moved by the program’s milestones and challenged to continue the donors’ formation and the service to the community, Dugong Atenista embarks on a new season of nurturing Ateneo-Hero formation this first semester of School Year 2012-2013. Bannering the theme, “Dare to be A-Hero: the 15-Minute Dugong Atenista Challenge”, the program invites every Atenean to reflect on the original essence of Dugong Atenista as a formation program: to be aware of his/her God-given gifts and talents, and as a response, develop a high sense of courage to decide in love and freedom. As it has done in the last five years, the program presents the Atenean a concrete opportunity to return God’s love with love towards others.

This is the Dugong Atenista challenge: ordinary heroism by courageously enduring a little prick of a needle and a little force to pump a blood out into a small bag – all in more or less fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes – it may seem too little time and too ordinary to be tagged as heroism, but fifteen minutes is enough to help save lives.

On July 28 during the eleventh Dugong Atenista bloodletting drive, the Ateneans are given the opportunity once again to be A-Hero: donate blood and save lives. In this new season, Dugong Atenista through the Office of Student Affairs challenges the Ateneo de Naga community to become a community of volunteers.

With ADNU’s program partner Bicol Medical Center, this event will be held at the Xavier Hall from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. It will be part of the celebration of the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.