Don’t save it all for Christmas day

The Philippines is known to have the longest Christmas in the world. For the Filipinos, the season of giving starts as soon as the "ber" months (September to December) begin - ranging up to four months of celebration.

Ateneo de Davao University's students takes this opportunity to share not just cheers of greetings but cheers of giving. In an expedition to Bukidnon that the English majors of Ateneo took, students met with the native group of the Matigsalug tribe with whom they try to get into the Spirit of Giving.

On the first day of September, students from Ateneo gathered to an amazing group that wishes to extend their blessings unto others - bearing gifts of rice and preserved goods. These goods are the only allowable donations that the group could give even if they would desire to give more.

In Bukidnon, the group met the native group of the Matigsalug, a group of people found in Tigwa-Salug Valley, Bukidnon. The name Matigsalug means "people along the Salug River or as its called now the Davao river." this group's form of income include farming and selling bracelets.

Students gave their best to bring glee to this people by extending their gifts through buying native products from them. The Matigsalug were well accomodating. They accepted the treats and presents that the students brought and the universal language was spoken at the end of the day.

Christmas time is fast approaching. The students in this trip wishes not only to give but to inspire more of us to help and share to those who are less fortunate.  Time is too short to keep every blessing to yourself. Everyday is a day for giving as it was given to you itself. Give with purpose and give with a smile. As the song goes " don't save it all for Christmas day".

Gizmos in the Gazebo

The gazebo is the most crowded area in Ateneo. It is similar to a jungle filled with business where you can find students doing there homework, requirement, and idleness. But mostly, the gazebo is home to the most techy students of the school, and these students are armed with the most advanced set of gadgets.

Gadgets are known to be the sword and shield of the students in the gazebo, and with the midyear just passed, new gadgets release have been set. The laptops, portable speakers, and iphone 4s that we most often see in the gazebo might be phased out this year by the new gadgets that are coming out.

The first and most long awaited gadget that would spark everyone's interest might be the new iphone 5. With its release just within this month, many students have considered trading in there new iphone 4s to acquire this new gadget. Even with its overpriced value, more and more students are seemed to be fascinated with the new technology called the LTE which is said to be faster than a regular wifi connection. This new edge that the iphone has is just one of the many upgrades that it took since its recent predecessor, the iphone 4.

Gaming laptops have also been sighted to increase in number as the school year progressed. Most students with laptops stay in the gazebo for an extended period of time not just to study but to indulge in an epic gameplay of their choice. Although, there is no specific brand of laptop that overpowers the rest, the most common sticker that you can see in these laptops is the trademark of NVIDIA, a company well known for making Graphics processing Unit. Simply said, NVIDIA makes any game faster, more defined and more realistic. More on NVIDIA, keep your heads up on the rising 3D gaming laptops that are rising in release this year.

Due to the construction that is going on, the exponential increase of the population in the gazebo has cause the gazebo volume to extend its noise - turning the gazebo into a catastrophic ensemble of disaster. To keep up with this noise, students who are in need of dance practice or movie editing have resorted to either earphones or portable speakers. High definition earphones have taken over the classics with the most common brand that overwhelms others - beats. Also in the audio category, portable speakers are now coming into field in the hall near the gazebo for dance practice.

With the gazebo slowly becoming a hive for the techs, more and more demands are being brought up to the school. The most common of demands is the faster router for faster internet connection. The wifi system of the school is the foremost its tech world.

As more and more students are gathered in Ateneo gazebo, the school is warned to prepare for a greater energy consumption and vast number of students asking for more plug outlets. Only time will whether the new building would help reduce the number of students in the gazebo when it is finished or not.

Flooded field

The consecutive heavy rains during the past few months have taken its toll on the students of Ateneo. Recent events have reported that students had been stranded on separate building of Ateneo, rendering them unable to leave school or to go their next class.

Stranded students complain first about the unroofed gaps between the buildings of the school. Such requirements like paper works or paper mashie are of constant danger of the rain. Even those who carry waterproof bags are getting cautious.

Umbrellas for students use was once provided by the school. But the increasing number of students in Ateneo proved to be more than the school can accommodate. Not only are there few number of available umbrellas, the majority of umbrellas ready for use are mostly degraded by wear and tear.

Unfortunately, the heavyweight of the rain problem is the numerous flooded areas of Ateneo. These areas include the path from Canisius and Bellarmine buildings to the guard house; the Home and Econmics classroom located in Dotterwiech building; and the most popular flooded fields of Finster going to Jubilee Building.

Students who are stranded in in one building are unable to go their next classes; those who do manage to report to their classes either takes of their shoes and pulls up their pants; or, comes in to class with a set of dirty uniforms and wet shoes.

There are also a large number of students who absolutely refuse to walk in the watery deep because of their awareness of the present bacteria in the water. The effects of dirty water on foot includes the worsening of wounds on foot, blisters, fatigues and strains.

These floods are also causing more students to be more vigilant because of the impending danger of accidents. Students who stay in their building during floods are safe from trouble but those who choose to run through the waters are in danger of slipping and falling down. There had been no recent reports of such accidents but it is given that the school does not want to wait for such incidents.

The students are somehow grateful for the on duty guards of the school who have taken matters into their hands. Their recent acts of compensation include making bridges between buildings using chairs and platforms. They are also seen escorting students from one building to another during low level flooding.

Rising concerns are asking the school to do more in combating this recent floods. Students ask the school to fix the landscape, make pathways with roofs and to build proper drainage systems that are constantly maintained.

Ateneo de Davao University school of education joins Kadayawan

Since the recent spin-off of the School of education from the School of Arts and Sciences, the future educators of the Ateneo de Davao University had been making a headway towards the recognition of it's new name; spearheading the school year with the first ever school of education orientation and entering the latest limelight by joining in Ateneo's first participation in the Kadayawan Festival Parade.

Rumored to be the biggest highlight for the SOE this semester, it's presence in the Kadayawan Festival Parade was a strategic advertisement that was a complete success. The future educators of Ateneo stated that they are not just another school in Ateneo that conforms to the necessities of being an institution but anew breed that would stand out with its credo.

The education division was silent in its recent years but when parted with it’s the social sciences division, it went in an uproar of proving its existence. Some would say that the students from the School of education have never been so fired up for competition since it's independence - proven with critic of being one of the most creative group in the Kadayawan parade.

The future plans of SOE is to establish a household name in the campus. With the new theme of molding outstanding notable students that become excellent representatives of society (M.O.N.S.T.E.R.S.) SOE seeks to stand not for competition but for excellence. It would not be long before SOE hosts an event bigger than the Kadayawan Parade exhibition.

Travel guide with my prime minister: not really

Bukidnon (madamis bukidis) is one of the hotspots of Mindanao when it comes to tourism. Its numerous tags for hot and cold springs and outland adventures are considered legendary to the rest of the island itself.

Thinking about all the things mentioned above, one would think that a trip to Bukidnon would be one wild and exciting experienced; but, this article seeks to put the name of Bukidnon to the test.

In this journey to make a good travel guide complete with fake scientific names, I am joined by my partner or as I call her my "prime minsiter". With me as the emperor, we have assessed the different sites that we visited during our trip to Bukidnon. This travel guide includes two sites to visit in Buda, Bukidnon, and me bossing her around.

Buda (walangis arawis). It is said that there, the Bukidnon climate cools even when the sun is highest and the day is at its peak. Add rain to that equation and I think one would have a hard time enjoying this place.

The first stop in Buda was in Golden Gate Adventure Resort (pultahan gintuan). There, the first thing you will notice is the gate which is not really made of gold. After that, you will come across the first sign of adventure: the playground (langitis nang paslitis).  But if you’re looking for the real escapade Golden gate has to offer, you might want to proceed to the zip line (lipadis sa talis).  Other than these two areas, they have a whole rainforest and a cave where you can run around in all day.

Since the danger of riding a zip line in an impending rain was too dangerous, I was prepared to let my prime minister do that for me instead; but, circumstance just wouldn't allow it. There were other places to visit and I was running out of cash. To sum it all up, if you want an Eden Nature park located in another place with the zip line attached to it, then Golden Gate Resort is for you.

The next stop in our travel was in Seagull Mountain Resort (mahalis tindahis). What captivates me in this place is that compared to other nature parks that I have visited; this mountain resort is actually located in a mountain.

In this spot, you have to be a bit stingy with your cash outtake because one of the first places to drop by is their restaurant (megento ang pagkains). Other vicinities include a forest (kawawas pagnawalas), a pool (walangis tubigis), and other places to eat (gilidis kainis).

Needless to say that this is a very great place to get close to your tribal side and reconnect with nature at its natural state. I would have normally hiked this whole place but the rain was pouring, I have a heavy 10-kilo luggage and my prime minister is getting tired of carrying my stuff.

These are just two of the many spots in Buda where you can enjoy getting close to nature through an exciting adventure of draining your pockets and harassing your feet. My tips in getting through this place are to bring a lot of cash, travel light, and wear hiking clothes. My tips on enjoying this place when it rains, is to wear a jacket or not go there at all.

This was my Bukidnon experience with my prime minister giving you a straight and forward travelogue for Buda.